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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

364 replies

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:13

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?

OP posts:
Schoolchoicesucks · 06/12/2023 10:40

It was shorts all year round when I was at junior school in the 80s. My nephews wore shorts year round at junior school out of choice until a couple of years ago (when they moved to secondary and weren't allowed). Friend's son in Cumbria wears shorts year round out of school as well. Unless they're sitting/standing still for long periods it's unlikely to do them harm. If they have warm coat, gloves etc. I think it's unlikely to be about cost or poverty as school trousers can be bought as cheaply as school shorts. It probably is the child's preference.

BrimfulOfMash · 06/12/2023 10:40

There is a cafe on the corner of my road which is popular with trades workers. I am fascinated how many choose to wear shorts, whatever the weather. They sit outside too, so that they can smoke.

But at least grown men have hairy legs to keep them warm.

BrimfulOfMash · 06/12/2023 10:42

KnickerlessParsons · 06/12/2023 10:34

Is it a school for budding postmen by any chance?

😂

Ryeman · 06/12/2023 10:44

My sons both prefer shorts for school and outside of school. My oldest is in secondary school now, but I cannot get my youngest (7) to wear trousers to school, no matter how hard I try. I pick my battles.

CharlotteBog · 06/12/2023 10:44

The worst thing about starting secondary school for both my boys was that they HAD to wear long trousers. They wore shorts all year round at school.
It's not like they're outside for long stretches, and when they are they're (hopefully) running around.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:46

the children I noticed didn't have warm coat, hat or gloves.

OP posts:
CharityShopChic · 06/12/2023 10:47

ChimChimeny · 06/12/2023 09:16

DD used to have swimming lessons with a boy who wore shorts pretty much all year round, unless it was snowing. He just preferred them 🤷🏻‍♀️

My youngest was exactly the same. We are in Scotland and when he was 7 or 8 he refused trousers entirely. He didn't like the "flappy" feeling around his legs. He found the centrally heated school too hot to wear trousers and only had a short 5 minute walk there from home. Spent his playtimes running around like wee boys do.

We could well afford to buy him school trousers but he refused to wear them and preferred shorts. Wasn't the only one either.

Calliopespa · 06/12/2023 10:47

I sometimes think this, but for some reason children don’t seem to mind cold legs. Perhaps they are ( often) so skinny there isn’t much insulation going on there anyway! The one that gets me is babies in the pram in winter with little feet sticking out and just thin cotton socks on ( and sometimes a lost one!). They can’t even run about for warmth.

SENlife · 06/12/2023 10:47

We are also North West on the Coast nothing will get my eldest to put trousers on, won't even wear socks. No matter how cold it is 🤷🏻‍♀️ some kids just prefer it. My dad also only ever wears shorts, unless skiing or it's a special occasion 👌 something my headteacher always used to ask me about as a child actually 🤣

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:48

My middle child only wanted to wear 1 sock today. ASC so no point in arguing. I managed to get 1 on. Small victories...

OP posts:
JanS17 · 06/12/2023 10:48

My DH wears shorts all year round basically unless it’s snowing. I don’t understand it at all but unless you know the reason I don’t think it’s particularly dangerous….

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 06/12/2023 10:49

Or third option they have a kid like my son.
You're welcome to come round and try and get my 8 year old to wear long pants. He has a cupboard full of them, when he grows out of them I give them away completely unworn and buy new ones in the eternal hope that he'll one day wear long pants in winter. He can't stand the feel of them. The closest I've gotten is long socks and long shorts. He hasn't gotten sick from it, it's not causing him any harm, make of it what you will, but he's the one in the family that never catches anything.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:49

@BrimfulOfMash The author of Postman Pat worked as a teacher at Castle Park school in Kendal, he was a friend of my mum. I met him in Chester when I was little and he signed his book.

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:50

So possibly yes a school for future posties...

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:51

@EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness glad he's an iron constitution!

OP posts:
Definitelynotme2022 · 06/12/2023 10:51

My ds is one of the ones always in shorts.

I remember in infant school I was driving to work early and the car was saying -3 or something. I phoned dh up and told him to lie or blackmail ds into wearing trousers that day!!

He's in year 7 and they're not allowed shorts in secondary school, so it's been slightly traumatic and he's still not keen on wearing trousers. So when he's not in school, it's shorts 99% of the time.

On the whole, he doesn't really feel the cold and goes off every morning with just his shirt and jumper on.

newnamenewmane · 06/12/2023 10:52

My boy doesn't like wearing trousers. He only wears shorts. He has trousers in his wardrobe which he can wear if he lies, he chooses not too. It is neither a case of, we cant afford them, he has sensory issues, he is neurodiverse, or we are neglectful parents.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:52

Perhaps it's a bonus side to being young not feeling the cold?

OP posts:
Yorkshirepudding1987 · 06/12/2023 10:52

My son has both shorts and trousers for school hanging in his wardrobe. He is 6, he insists on shorts every day. He wears a polo, fleece and winter coat and says he is warm 🤷‍♀️

HunterBidensBurnerPhone · 06/12/2023 10:55

A couple of years ago I would've agreed with you OP.

But my son is now 7 and lives in shorts. I cannot get him out of the fucking things and I've tried every trick in the book. Now I just let him crack on. He's happy.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:56

@HunterBidensBurnerPhone as long as they're happy.

OP posts:
SeththeSloth · 06/12/2023 10:58

My DS wears shorts all year round. He has long trousers but prefers shorts. It’s also because he’s set himself a goal to not wear long trousers to school even in the Winter. I’m letting him get on with it as he’ll have to wear long trousers when he goes to secondary school!

Rouleur · 06/12/2023 11:00

It's not neglect it's choice. DS never wore long trousers in infants/juniors and absolutely hates having to wear them at secondary. He's straight into shorts as soon as he gets home. It's easy as an adult to think "ooh that looks chilly" but kids are a lot more active than most adults and don't feel the cold as much. I get the same when I'm out for a run in shorts in winter - people will comment that I must be cold - of course I'm not, I'm blowing like a steam engine up a bloody great hill!

TommyNever · 06/12/2023 11:04

Like most boys of my era, I wore shorts throughout primary school and don't recall ever noticing cold legs. I wore them at first in high school too, but some girls started mocking my "sexy legs" (I think they were jealous), so I switched to long trousers.

scrunch22 · 06/12/2023 11:07

Neglect 😂 come off it! Have you ever actually seen what a neglected child looks like? It's certainly not on school shorts alone!
Surprisingly, not everyone is the same as you and your children- mine would much prefer to be in shorts given the opportunity, this includes football kits without base layers!