Poppy on kids sports kits

[HelenHen]

This seems to be a big thing now, but seems very unfair.

How can a kid choose to not wear a poppy if its being handed out by their coach before a game?

Not everybody chooses to wear a poppy, for whatever reason... many people do and that's totally ok... but it seems harder and harder for kids to make the choice.

You could just intervene on your child’s behalf. It would make you petty and ridiculous but those soldiers gave their lives for us to have freedom, and that includes not respecting them I guess…

I'm not trying to debate the poppy... just to remind some that it should be an 'opt in', not an 'opt out' approach, especially for kids

Purely from a safety point of view, that sounds ridiculous unless its stickers?

Its printed on the kit

I think kids are probably a bit young to have developed a clear opinion on it or not? If anyone is in a family where people object, I’m sure it would be ok to say no thanks, or to lose it straight away.

On kids sports kit? Ours only gives out new kit once a year or once every two years.

Perhaps in this case the argument is it's "part of the kit"

The club support the Poppy Appeal so they display it.

A bit like showing sponsors branding

It's not likely to be printed

But you can buy Poppies for sports kits from the RBL which are designed to attach to the kit (velcro maybe?)

I agree with you. Wearing poppies should be a choice. I choose not to wear them anymore because of the hypocrisy of the whole thing, so in your situation I’d want my child to have a choice too.

Absolutely... but what 10 year old wants to stand out from the rest of their team? If its something the club are making a big deal of?

I don't like to be vocal about the poppy... just choose not to wear one, for many reasons. I will stand silent for the silence... I would be OK with refusing to wear a poppy where everyone else is wearing it... but it's unfair to ask a child to have to speak up like that. My children will probably end up just wearing them though they really don't want to.

Some of those soldiers shot and murdered their fellow citizens, so there's definitely a reason why it's not as cut and dried as you'd like to portray it.

Why “especially for kids”? They’re not necessarily old enough to decide for themselves. We don’t allow options for mist of their lives (eg crossing at the green man, eating vegetables, getting to school on time, going to church if you’re a church going family) - maybe just accept this is something else they can decide about when they’re grown-up.

Exactly. They're not old enough to decide for themselves so leave it out!

Do the minutes silence at the matches, sell poppies to the grown ups if you must, whatever... but don't make the kids wear the poppy

You could be an arsehole and remove it or speak to the coach and asked that your child is excluded.

So, genuine question, do your children truly not want to wear a poppy or are they not wearing one because it's your opinion and they feel they have to go along with it?

Really kids not much older than your 10 year old died for their country and you think it's bad he can't decide to opt out of wearing a poppy. Give your head a little wobble. If you want your child to stand up for THEIR beliefs then encourage them to do so - but don't expect them to stand up for YOUR beliefs

I'm careful to tell them both sides of the discussion and let them choose. I know they'll be hearing a lot more of the other side though from school, friends, teams, tv, grandparents etc.

They genuinely don't want to wear them. My son is a bit older so he has total choice... and he usually loves to piss me off if he can 😂 but he still doesn't wear it.

There is a opt out, your kid doesn't play for the team, because you don't agree with their ethos.

See that's a choice you have.

Can't think of a reason why I would want my child to not wear a poppy to be honest. What is it you don't agree with to the point you wouldn't want your child to wear one?

If they are so adamant in their beliefs then they should be able to say "no".

Lots of people don’t like to wear poppies because of what the British army did in Northern Ireland or in other countries. People from NI might not like to wear one as an example. It shouldn’t be a default expectation to wear one.

My son wouldn’t be wearing one. Rip off and return if it’s Velcro, cover with sticking plaster or something if it’s not.

It's always been hard to conscientiously opt out of poppy wearing. When I was at school, I got berated by my form tutor for about 20 minutes after registration because I turned up wearing a white poppy and she was completely offended by the concept of it.

Don't presume to know anything about who died for me or my country please.

I've already said I'm not debating the poppy. You wear as many as you want. I would also fight for your right to wear one. Though I find your post offensive... presuming kids died so that decades later kids would be forced to wear an emblem at a Football match. Get a grip!

Thankfully the coach and club believe otherwise 😂