Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not be bothered about ds3 doing PE in his pants

80 replies

racmac · 01/05/2009 19:12

DS 3.6 goes to nursery and every Friday they do PE - last Friday being the first time they used aparatus (sp?)

They apparently removed their shoes, trousers and jumpers and did PE in their vests, pants and socks. Im really not that bothered about it but some of the other parents are in a real state - saying its not right they should have a proper PE kit and that its disgusting they have to wear their pants.

They are making complaints to the nursery teacher and want a stop put to it immediately.

AIBU in thinking its not that much of a deal or should i be concerned?

OP posts:
MissPiggyHasTheFlu · 01/05/2009 19:13

Not a big deal at 3 slightly more drama if they were 13

UKVeggieMum · 01/05/2009 19:18

I wouldn't be happy about it, although I assume it was done inside?

I do think that even though they are only 3, they are also entitled to some dignity - so if you wouldn't expect an older child to do PE in their undies it's not really OK for 3 year olds.

I have a similar issue with parents who hold their toddlers over grates in public places for a wee, you wouldn't expose an older child in public. I saw someone doing this recently right next to s public loo.

UKVeggieMum · 01/05/2009 19:18

I wouldn't be happy about it, although I assume it was done inside?

I do think that even though they are only 3, they are also entitled to some dignity - so if you wouldn't expect an older child to do PE in their undies it's not really OK for 3 year olds.

I have a similar issue with parents who hold their toddlers over grates in public places for a wee, you wouldn't expose an older child in public. I saw someone doing this recently right next to s public loo.

TheProfiteroleThief · 01/05/2009 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shouldbeironing · 01/05/2009 19:20

Wouldnt bother me.

Worldsworstmummy · 01/05/2009 19:20

maybe they are worried about the state of their dcs pants?

Totally normal for nursery, up to about year 1/2 I would say. And no reason why they give them a form of pe kit if it worries them so much.

Tbh the amount of time it takes them to just take off their normal clothes and put them on again at that age really eats into their PE time. Add dressing in PE kit and then undressing from it. Only time for a couple of star jumps really. I speak as one who worked in class for 3 years.

luckylady74 · 01/05/2009 19:22

We did this when I was in primary school- until we were quite old.
I wouldn't be that bothered and tbh the impractical restrictive crap that people often dress their dds in is far more offensive than 3 yr olds in pants.
It takes the average reception class nearly an hour to change into their kit the first time they do pe - can you imagine?

Overmydeadbody · 01/05/2009 19:23

oh for goodness sake, silly parents.

3 year olds can keep their dignity intact while playing around on aparatus in their pants.

TheFallenMadonna · 01/05/2009 19:24

It wouldn't bother me either. Nor my dc when they were that age.

funkybuddah · 01/05/2009 19:26

Wouldnt bother me at all, we used to do it in pants and vest at infants, too much PC nonsense.

they are kids FGS. Im reminded of a debate about this on another forum many moons ago, some declared it was no acceptable at all as it was very revealing, i put forward the argument of gymnastics etc where they wear equally little clothing, and no one bats an eyelid.

funtimewincies · 01/05/2009 19:30

Umm. I think that the problem with PE kit is that by the time you've changed all those 3 year olds into shorts, t-shirts and pumps (and taken them all to the toilet as well) there wouldn't actually be time to DO anything else.

It takes long enough when they get to reception!

risingstar · 01/05/2009 19:30

Well, Iknow that times have changed but I am sure that we did PE in our pants and vests until we were at least 8!

Think other parents need to get a grip. They have a life time ahead of them( well it seems like it) of finding PE kit, washing the bloody stuff, making sure each kid has right kit on right day, followed by replacing it all every term, despite sewing sodding name tapes on it all.

No need to start all that at 3!!!!!

squeaver · 01/05/2009 19:35

We did PE in our regulation knickers until we went into senior school, so that would have been up to 12 (girls school).

MIAonline · 01/05/2009 19:36

If they had no pants on at all I might be worried but it sounds like a sensible plan, children get too hung up about their bodies as it is, should we really be putting our hang ups onto them at such a young age?
YANBU, to not be bothered.

Sassybeast · 01/05/2009 19:37

Oh I dunno - wouldn't they be a bit cold ? It's not that hard to help a 3 year old to pull on a pair of shorts surely ? Any nursery/pre school I've used seems to manage it ?

Original poster
racmac · 01/05/2009 19:42

Seems like most agree with me

No they wouldnt be cold - they are inside in a hall within the main school - they get changed in the hall and my ds isnt in the slightest bit bothered about it

OP posts:
SalopianGirl · 01/05/2009 19:49

I clearly remember doing PE (indoors) in my pants & vest when I was in reception class.OK it was about 30 yrs ago but cannot remember any parents being up in arms about it.

piscesmoon · 01/05/2009 19:51

I thought it was quite common. The DCs aren't in the least bothered and it makes changing much easier and there is no need to be left out because they haven't got their kit.

booyhoo · 01/05/2009 19:56

as long as the kids arent bothered it wouldnt bother me, my dc 3.8 would gladly do it naked if he was allowed.

ellingwoman · 01/05/2009 20:04

Those who don't 'think it's right' - I'd love to know exactly what the problem is. Seriously - I can't think of one.

KingCanuteIAm · 01/05/2009 20:04

UKVeggieMum, TBH I would rather see a dc doing it over a grate than run the gauntlet of some public loos - it is quite a lot better than a poo in a bush and leaving it there. Some public toilets are beyond diusgusting.

Op, YANBU, loss of dignity in a 3yo? FGS most of them would be much happier bare-arsed half the time.

MrsWeasley · 01/05/2009 20:07

In the dark ages, when I was little, we did PE in our pants and vest and they used to take pictures of the class for the school album. I also remember one summer we did it outside in out undies too, no problems. We were at infants school so 5-7 years old.

JemL · 01/05/2009 20:21

We used to do PE in underwear at infants school if we had forgotten our kit.

I wouldn't have the slightest problem with it - other than I would want to know in advance to ensure DS had nice non-holey-frayed pants on!

OrmIrian · 01/05/2009 20:22

YANBU at all.

UKVeggieMum · 01/05/2009 20:49

Well, we are all entitled to our own opinion, just expressing mine.