DD friend is a furry/therian. Trying to encourage (strongly) my DD to be the same.

[Sockmate123]

What would you do in this situation? Child in class is 'recruiting' other children (mainly very quiet children) to be furries. She says she is a therian and presents as a wolf. School has banned her wearing wolf items to school but she still does on party days/world book day/non uniform etc
Parents seem to do littke about it
Quite older parents. Children are 10. My DD has so far not engaged but likes the child involved but is being pressured. It was her birthday recently and friend bought her a tail 🙄

I think this is completely weird. Child digs holes at lunch time, barks at people etc cute/acceptable up until age 5 or 6 but not girls that are on the cusp of puberty!

AIBU?
Yes- she's only a kid, will spon grow out of it.
No - its weird, school and parents should do more to address it

Perhaps you should read about Scotiacon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow this year and the warnings the actual organisers had to issue about attendees' behaviour.

Or Rainfurrest 2015.

Normal community, eh?

It's like any hobby. My kid likes golf. "But would you like them on a website with adult golfers?" It's an odd approach to hobbies.

Genuinely, why? To avoid being bullied? See above. Not bullying is the answer to stopping bullying.

Have you ever seen the behaviour of football fans? Do you discourage your children from watching football matches?

Completely agree, what kind of parent would encourage this in a 10yo, and they are encouraging it if they are buying tails for friends birthday presents

The warnings included not exhibiting artworks depicting paedophilia, described as "cub porn", or humans having sex with animals.

Not by and large a problem with football fans.

Being a furry was a fetish long before the kids of today started doing it.
There was an episode of CSI that was first shown in 2003 called Fur and Loathing about orgies at furry conventions.
This isn't about people taking over a kid's hobby and making it a fetish, it was a fetish from the start.

Who do you think commits more sexual assaults, including of children?

It's also a kids' hobby.

Op has said she is identifying as a wolf/therian. Not pretending every now and then. I'm only going on what op has said..

Deranged.
"adjective
adjective: deranged
mad; insane."

I stand by my use of the word 😂

It’s weird and a total turn-off.
Havd a word with the parents, return the tail and discourage the friendship.

Because as a society we need normal people.

Safer Schools has some advice on children and furries.
https://oursaferschools.co.uk/2023/04/24/furries/

Some very important points are about discussing reality and fantasy, what sort of behaviour is appropriate and respectful, online or offline, and remembering that anyone they interact with online may not be telling the truth about who they are and highlight the important difference between a fursona (an outward expression) and a real person.

I do hope that the girl's parents are doing that.

And I don't believe that trying to influence other children into identifying as furries constitutes appropriate behaviour.

Never been so thankful for my stolidly unimaginative kids.

Do we need all people to be "normal" or the same? Why?

☹️

People have had feet since, well, people. Most "Furries" are just cosplayers, like most people don't fantasise about feet.

@SquashedSquid as a teacher would you have any safeguarding concerns about this young girl. Would you report anything on CPOMs or your equivalent?

No, because it's made up.

@SquashedSquid and if it wasn’t?

How is a person who thinks that they are a non human creature going to manage later? What job will they do? Or do you think that others should work to support them with a life on benefits? Sounds quite cushy really.

I think what's going on at home should be looked at more closely

A 10 year old likes to think they are a wolf during lunch break, and you think this will lead to a lifetime of benefits?

This girl is likely neurodiverse and enjoying pretending to be a wolf to soothe herself and because it interests her. What would you suggest, taking away her harmless play?

Furries, by and large, aren't unemployed, btw.