To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

[DragonMumE]

Just returned from rural primary school in Lakes. Young lads in school uniform shorts - it's minus 3 here. I class this as neglect. Discuss.

Are people struggling to afford winter school uniform? Aldi sells school trousers for less than a coffee (1.75 gbp?) Or worse are they indifferent?

I've had to hide the school shorts or I'd have a battle with DS wanting to wear them every day

Shorts in snow? Shouldn't the lads have been in kilts?

One of my sons wore shorts all year round, the other wore under armour and trousers as soon as it got below 5°.

Everyone's body temperature is different, and it's warm indoors.

I've a real fire on the go... toasting marshmellow and choccy buttons...

the classrooms are very warm so perhaps that sways the lads.

I agree. The UK is getting warmer. I remember summers that were sunny and warm but getting to 37/38/39/40 was unthinkable.

We're a thermals and ski gloves kinda family.

I think it’s offensive to bandy words like neglect around like this over boys in shorts in winter. It’s not necessarily got anything at all to do with affording uniform and while actual neglect is child abuse, so would be wrestling my child to the ground and forcibly putting clothes on him he doesn’t want.

I have a shorts wearing child - he has several pairs of trousers if he wants them, but he doesn’t. It’s not neglect, it’s respecting his bodily autonomy- school rules allow shorts or trousers so since it’s his body and it’s not a medical or safety issue he gets to choose. If we lived in Siberia I’d say differently.

Unless the child is shivering, complaining or actually seems to be suffering, stop judging against how you would feel - funnily enough different people run differently and how a small active boy feels the cold will differ from a grown woman.

I can't fathom why they insist on blazers - purely control?

Totally common sight here. Fortunately my own DS relented and agreed to wear trousers but many of my friend’s sons wear shorts whatever the weather. My DS now point blank refuses to wear a coat. Pouring with rain? No. Sub-zero temperatures (as this morning?) No… I’m sure our neighbours must be sick of hearing the stand off on our front door step every morning but he’s 13. Too old for me to pin him down and forcibly dress him.

2 of my boys always wore shorts all year round at Primary School, they survived! I'm the complete opposite and feel the cold; they had trousers but chose to wear shorts 🤷🏽‍♀️

My 7 year old will wear trousers but I can't get a jumper on him. He went out to Beavers last night in just the polo shirt. It was near freezing. Plenty of boys in his school choosing shorts still and plenty of girls in skirts and ankle socks. None of them are neglected, it's their choice.

My dad used to regale us with stories of growing up in the 1920s, one of which was not getting his first pair of long trousers until he was 15!

Also, not cold til postman puts his long kecks on and he hasn't yet.

Both my boys wore shorts all the way through primary, preferring them.

My son is a permanent short wearer whenever he can. He just likes his big lanky legs to be free. No medical or social work interventions needed.

OK. And some people feel the temperature differently. This can't be news to you.

Not unusual for boys in juniors especially to refuse trousers in all weathers!

it was minus 9 last week and snowing. Still shorts.

I remember wearing skirt and socks to secondary school all year and being absolutely freezing in winter. (Trousers were not allowed. Tights were, technically, but they had to be opaque white and I never saw a single girl wearing them!)

I'd say YABU as it's not neglect if the boys are choosing to wear shorts. I do look askance at schools with a shorts-only policy though, posh tradition or not.

Coldest you've even known it? 🤣

Neglect? 🤣

My 7 year old is Autistic with SPD and will only wear shorts. We get a lot of funny looks in the cold but short of wrestling a pair of trousers onto him I can't force him. We've tried multiple types of styles and fabrics but he can't stand the feel.

My child would wear shorts in the snow if hw could get away with it. Has always preferred shorts

Do you know me 🤣🤣🤣
Seriously I wear shorts virtually all year, I hate the feeling of material against my legs, maybe they do too.
OK I sometimes make concessions and wear knee length socks if it's way below freezing and I'm running, but there's a running joke in the village that if I'm wearing leggings/jeans then it must be really cold.

*I also never wear a hat, because...ick. wear the thinnest gloves I can find (and they usually come off quite quickly), can't wear anything woolen (ick again) or fleece. In case you haven't guessed I'm autistic with sensory issues around clothing

My 7 year old point blank refuses to wear trousers. He hasn't worn anything longer than knee length since before covid. He's fine, and far from neglected. I mention it to him now and then and he looks at me like I'm mad.

My 11 year old wears trousers and hoodies in the height of summer. Again, when I gently suggest he might be too hot, he looks at me like I'm talking gibberish.

They know their own minds. They're fine.

We were allowed trousers in 94 - a female Dr stated at a meeting about skirts that girls were getting ill. The trousers were so nice & warm.

OP is offensive. Do you know how serious the word Neglect is. Ask a SW'er. You idiot. FFS.