Kids school uniforms - shorts and skirts?

[rhaenyraT]

Dd just started reception so I’m new to this. Had a message a few days ago reminding parents that girls wearing skirts and dresses must wear shorts underneath (this was never specified in the initial uniform instructions). I will get dd some cycling shorts but haven’t been anywhere yet where I can pick some up cheaply. Teacher ‘reminded’ me again today. Is this a thing in schools? I’m presuming it’s for modesty reasons but they are 4! Is it a big deal? Obviously I’ll do it but if it’s so important I’m not sure why it wasn’t mentioned in the initial welcome pack.

Not all knickers provide a decent level of coverage so if your not going with shorts then please make sure she is wearing decent, well fitting knickers!

I work in a reception class and while we would never expect girls to wear shorts under their skirts when we are trying to reinforce messages about privacy and how nobody should see your underwear areas it can be hard when children are rolling on the carpet with their underwear on full show!

At that age they kick legs everywhere and no ones wants to see their pants. It’s best to wear shirts underneath. She’d be mortified if other children started “ohhh we saw your pants” in a chorus of ten little voices.

Remember having to wear gym knickers under sports skirts but never shorts under dresses at school.
My DD preschool always used to put leggings on her if she was wearing a skirt, so no one could see her knickers. Did annoy me somewhat - especially as they were using her spare clothing we'd provided in case of accidents to do this!
As my DD got older, she chose to weather shorts under dresses or boy's darker, plain boxer shorts. The latter were modest but shorter and cooler than shorts.
School should be putting it on the initial clothing list though, if it's now regulation.
And as you say, it can possibly create an awkward conversation with your DD. If anything, I'd just say the school have it as part of their uniform. Just have a laugh about it and say aren't school rules a bit silly sometimes but nevermind we'll just go along with it......

Mine never wore shorts under skirts or dresses.
But then a) they were a sensible length, b) they wore knickers that fitted, and c) they couldn't do handstands/cartwheels anyway.

Mine wears shorts under her skirt and training underwear. I don’t put shorts on for modesty I only do it on top of the training pants incase she wets herself and nothing will go through but she is controllably potty trained due to SEN

There are all sorts of weirdos on chat forums that like to talk about little girls undies.

Not saying that that is this poster, but I am drawing a boundary about not discussing it in detail and I think that's fine.

I answered the OP to constructively engage with what the OP was asking for advice about and repeatedly told the other person I don't want to discuss that aspect. That's my boundary to draw. Fine for you to think I'm rude. Also fine for you to explain it to them if you like and want to save them the Google.

Oh wow
There's no specification about that at my child's primary!
My child only wore shorts under her things when she got to year 5 and 6 and that was purely because she started wanting to

I keep all her cycling shorts from her previous sizes that she's grown out of and she wears them under skirts and dresses.

Why does it matter if anyone sees a childs cotton pants? Its not like theres anything on show, its no more revealing than a swim suit.

The childs genitals are already covered up. By pants. Multiple layers to pull down is impractical.

I refused to do this when DD was that age, although i did buy large boxer style pants rather than tiny briefs. She now has shorts in juniors but thats because she requested them and shes a bit older now and more self conscious.

4 year olds really arent like this! Mine couldnt give a shit if you saw their underwear or saw them naked i once had 3 of DS mates after school on a hot day, i turned my back 5 seconds to find they'd all stripped to bare skin for a water fight. Zero modesty at all. Most kids get a bit more bothered at about 7/8. My eldest is 9 & still doesnt care if you see his arse. Not surehe ever will if DH anything to go by.

Yes obviously you can draw your boundaries - but the interaction might have gone better if you said you weren’t discussing that topic rather than immediately attacking the poster and posting a meme.

That is your family. Your family is not the same as other families. My Daughter would have been embarrassed as a 4 year old if people seen her underwear, she has always been shy.
4 years olds do comment without a filter, especially in a mixed classroom.

DD is now year 8, primary school never asked for shorts under skirts, however she liked to wear black cycling-type shorts underneath anyway. Haven't seen that mentioned at secondary school (though I'm guessing not so much need) but she only wears trousers anyway.

I did. Twice. It would have been nice to have be respected the first time.

Have you tried educating the other poster on how respecting a boundary is important rather than asking multiple questions to try diverting a topic from "do i need to buy something not set outas a requirement in the uniform policy?" into "what's wrong with modesty in little girls"?

And don't you think it's interesting that that poster won't respect my boundaries and also seems to hold the view that there is a responsibility on little girls to be modest?

DD wore these type of knickers at primary, under a black skirt. they were perfect as they were tight fitting so didn't gape and came down her leg a bit, but she didn't have to faff around with shorts underneath a skirt.
Now she's at secondary, she rolls her skirt up to practically her chin and wears a pair of nike pros 🙄

Buy Black Short Briefs 5 Pack (2-16yrs) from the Next UK online shop

Good grief. I think I’m not going to bother with this anymore, I hope you have a good day.

It’s seems overkill to me, my DD’s didn’t wear them 20 years ago but i did make sure they had decent pants on, I’m wondering if girl’s are being sent in with skimpy knickers on?

back when I was at school we did pe in our pants!

If dd came to me and asked for shorts under her dress then id get them for her. But she hasn’t because she is innocent at 4 and doesn’t see anything wrong with people seeing her knickers if she sits cross legged or does a handstand. We have had the chat about private parts, but this isn’t private parts - it’s pants designed to cover private parts. And they are well fitting. I have bought some cycling shorts today just in case the weather warms up again and she can go without tights but i find it all quite sad and unnecessary at such a young age. Totally get it when they are older and more self conscious/have periods/want privacy. But it shouldn’t be an issue for foundation children.

Don’t they all get changed together for PE anyway?

How does the teacher know she isn't wearing shorts? Why is the teacher looking at that part of your DD?

What decade did you do PE in pants?

There is a theory that girls pants have got skimpier over the decades.

Probably as the girl is cartwheeling or sitting on the floor

mine didn’t have to at that age. I think she asked to and still does at 13

We did P.E in vest and pants in the late 80’s. I remember doing a play and having to dress as a sailor in vest and blue pe pants

PE Pants are designed to be seen they are more like the pants girls would wear under a short sports skirt (netball, hockey, tennis) or like the running pants lots of runners use.