To ask if boys can wear coloured gingham school shorts?

[Makingitupaswegoalong]

DS starting school in September. I’ve never liked the grey boys’ school shorts. I think they’re horrible.

Could a boy wear the shorts version of the summer dresses in the warmer months? The ones like this:
https://direct.asda.com/george/school/shorts/light-blue-girls-gingham-longer-length-school-shorts/G008057152,default,pd.html?redirectFromInt=1&cmpid=ppc--geor-------_-dskwid-_dm&utm_campaign=pla:Fashion-School-_Performance_Max&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17501196607&gbraid=0AAAAADt8Wcm1oMWVYoBrMZRAaJmY4OxHM&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgIXCBhDBARIsAELC9ZgYG9pdeZibdgD76_xniRBLDqnyyvZArL9DdLA7VsYiWE5zGC1CWE0aAkIFEALw_wcB

The little boys round here wear a lot of brightly coloured patterned leggings.

Why couldn’t they were these shorts? Are they obviously girly? Would people bully him or think we were weird? I just think they’re nicer.

Ha! Tell that to my DS, who would still prefer to wear shorts all year round (and does when out of school). He wore shorts throughout primary as he hated the feel of trousers on his lower legs, and got too hot. I gave up buying trousers in primary. Come secondary, he’s had to wear trousers. In the summer term
they (boys and girls!) are allowed to wear on the knee school
shorts, but it’s been hard to find ones long enough. Other boys were the same.

They look a bit like pyjama bottoms either for a boy or for a girl

However its the school you need to be checking with although I thought it was illegal for schools now to have different rules for males and females. If females can wear something then the boys should also be allowed it and vice versa.

Many teenage boys and young men seem impervious to the cold.

Boys run around, roll/slide on grass, fall on the ground - that's without the usual dropping food on them at lunchtime! Even if your son was allowed to wear them, which is doubtful, as most school policy is black/grey shorts, they will be stained in no time! Boys play much more physical games, than girls, and he will ruin the shorts. Most children want to fit in, even at 4/5 years old. You might not like grey/black shorts but for boys they are a much more practical colour. I have worked in Infant/Junior/First schools for 14 years and have never seen a boy wearing anything but grey/black shorts.

I have never seen those before. They weren’t around when my children were small.I might have bought them to go under my daughter’s summer dress but she wouldn’t have worn them on their own. My school would have allowed them i suppose but I very much doubt many want to wear them and certainly not the boys. My experience is that most children, when given the choose, do tend to choose clothes on traditional gender lines no matter how much you might try and influence them.

the boys love wearing the grey cargo shorts I found as they have loads of pockets and look pretty cool.

Yes I think the fabric is horrible. I remember even thinking that when I was at school myself!

I really wouldn’t wait to buy uniform, you will find by August it’s hard to come by and often sold out, especially with M&S current challenges.

If the policy is grey shorts why not just buy those. Most children like to fit in and not stand out, they are robust and hide the inevitable stains! Many boys still choose to wear grey shorts all year around at primary school rather than switching to trousers. My son and his friends definitely did.

Hope your son settles in fast when he starts.

Depends how strict the school is. Those shorts, and the playsuits aren't on our uniform list but some girls do wear them and don't seem to be challenged on it. But if they aren't on the list and your school is stricter then nobody will be able to wear them.

What you like is irrelevant because the school has a uniform policy for you to follow.

Around here the girls just wear those shorts under their summer dresses for when they do handstands etc, they don’t just wear them on their own and none of the boys would wear them

Not unless he was old enough to choose the shorts himself.
It is no different to sending him in wearing a skirt and cardigan.

He’s 4. He’s not going to be bullied for wearing shorts of any kind.

My 12yo DD is extremely disappointed I've failed to find shorts that meet the school regulations and fit her. (Knee length tailored grey shorts, no adjournments that git a developing girl...)

Yes, this,
Being the only one would probably be tough.
I don't like school uniform either very much. But prefer not making my kids a target more.

My son is in reception and quite often chooses to wear the cardigan rather than a jumper to school.

Do 4yr olds really get bullied?! That’s awful, I have a 4yr old and luckily this hasn’t happened yet. What sort of households are these children being brought up in that think it’s acceptable to bully a 4yr old over a pair of shorts.

Bullying aside, those shorts don’t look suitable for a 4yr old (whatever sex they are), they look flimsy.

I was hoping this would be the case. But others seem to disagree.

Those shorts are intended for girls as an alternative to the dress. If you want him to wear them, then the school is probably not going to challenge you as they can't say girls can wear them and boys can't in this day and age. It just depends if you want him to fit in and be like everyone else because whether you like it or not, he will stand out in those and have to deal with the consequences. And as kids, fitting in with peers is important to most. If it's just you wanting him to wear them for your own selfish reasons and not his wishes, then you are unreasonable.

They look like bloomers for a doll?
A girl could maybe wear them at a push, as more practical than a dress/shirt.
Honestly OP, grey (or whatever the school uniform colour is) shorts or trousers look so much smarter for a boy.

Oh dear. It’s been Blade & Rose and Frugi all the way for you up to now, hasn’t it?

He’ll be fine in grey trousers, just try to think about what an exciting time it will be for him, starting school. He really won’t be aware of the fabric on his legs. There are a few options, it’s not all cheap polyester these days. And won’t he have a bright cotton polo for his top anyway?

Do they though?! Because I bought my child full uniform in line with stated policy only to have to buy a whole other set of shoes and clothing when my child refused to wear uniform because she wanted to fit in with rest of this kids, none of whom wear clothing in line with uniform policy. 🤬

My dad wore them all the way to 16. Up north. He said it was practical because you can easily dry wet let’s when it rains. Not so easily wet fabric.

I think patterned shorts are rather different to a skirt? One being a huge statement and the other just being a different style of shorts? Sending a four year old boy to school in a skirt would be a whole other level.

Honestly 4 year olds don’t care. I’m wondering if some posters are thinking of older children.

Yes he may well be - a boy in DS class wore a cardigan and comments (not by DS) were made. It was a year of 90 pupils finding one or two to make a comment.

that said exactly what top are the shorts going with because it is going to look awful with a polo shirt