Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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:
screamingabdab · 01/05/2009 20:51

We did PE in our knickers and vest in the infants. What's the problem?

Little kids don't think pants are undignified, IME.

theDreadPirateDavina · 01/05/2009 20:52

Does anyone actually want to recognise a difference in the sexes under 5 FGS they're babies.... Let them be....

Greensleeves · 01/05/2009 20:53

I keep seeing this and thinking he's doing PEE in his pants

The other parents are being ridiculous IMO

and "exposing" a toddler by letting him have a quick wee? Horrocks IMO

FabulousBakerGirl · 01/05/2009 20:55

Sounds like they think they ought to be complaining.

Numberfour · 01/05/2009 20:57

have not read all posts, but no, i would not particularly like my preschool DS doing pe in his underwear. despite not being precious about the whole thing. just seems a bit unnecessary in a school environment.

not really a case of what preschoolers think is undignified or not. more a case of basic respect for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 01/05/2009 20:57

When I was at infant school you would wear your navy blue knickers on the day when you did PE.
I don;t see a problem with it - or with holding a toddler over a grating! After all you would not wipe an older child's bottom for them either but that would not make it wrong for a 3 year old.

y3dmm · 01/05/2009 21:08

Agree with JemL

mw14 · 07/05/2009 14:44

this has been discussed here several times before, with no real consensus emerging. I personally see no real problem, although the one bit that does worry me is that they retained te=heir socks when using apparatus. This is a real risk - it's very easy to slip on smooth surfaces such as hard floors, benches and wallbars. The teacher really should have had the children in their bare feet - and if I were you, I'd speak to them about this specific point.

IneedAbetterNickname · 07/05/2009 14:52

I don't think the nursery/ pre-school whatever it is, that DS1 went to did PE, but if they did then in his pants is fine by me, they are no more exposed in pants than in swim trunks imo.

The only problem they'd have at DS1s school, is that some of the parents don't always put pants on their LO's, and no I'm not joking

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 07/05/2009 15:12

For me this is no different to going to the beach and paddling in vest and pants, in fact that is far more exposed !!

Why do we persist in placing our own bodily hang ups on our children .

DD1 is 3.9 and I'm certain would not be in the slghtest bit concerned.... we were at the beach the other day doing exactly the same!!!! All she was worried about was HAVING FUN, surely more important to enthuse pre-schoolers with a love for PE rather than a loathing to the whole saga of changing etc....

sparkle12mar08 · 07/05/2009 15:30

You know what I can't rationally put my finger on why this feels uncomfortable to me. I suppose that's the point really though, there isn't a rational reason, I just feel uncomfortable! But like Kathyis6incheshigh I distinctly remember those big old navy blue thick granny pants that we used to wear for PE when we were little. We'd put them on over normal pants at the start of the day and then there wasn't the issue of getting 30 6-8 year olds changed. As for bare feet rather than socks, this bothers me too - I know it's a safety thing but there's also a hygiene issue too - I don't really want my child wandering round a hall where outdoor shoes have been, in his bare feet.

slushy06 · 07/05/2009 15:36

Sadly this would bother me to because if your child has not wiped properly and the other kids spot this that child would probably be picked on for years to come. Also I think this would upset the child if his classmates noticed he hadn't wiped properly. Secondly,(paronoid I know)But what if a parcel delivery man walks through the hall and happened to be a peado. I'm sure if you discovered this had happened you would be up in arms.(however unlikely)

FimbleHobbs · 07/05/2009 15:37

I really wouldn't be bothered. Pre-school isn't school, they are not mini school children. There are years ahead for forgetting kit bags and muddling up pumps.

My 4 and 2 year olds are very proud of the various characters on their pants, and 2 year old very proud of the dryness of her pants, I think they would love to play in them all day!

We quite often have friends over and find out that they have all stripped off in another room so they can burst nakedly into the room we are drinking tea discussing parenting issues in and shout SURRRPRISE.

Why make an issue, let them enjoy being young and active and not worry about bodies and selfconsciousness and so on.

seeker · 07/05/2009 15:39

He's not going to eat with his feet, is he? I don't have a problem with the pants - as others have said, I do have a problem with socks on apparatus.

FimbleHobbs · 07/05/2009 15:40

Eh? So the peado delivery man walks into a room full of children, if they are all fully dressed this is ok and he takes no notice yet if they are in pants all of a sudden what? He drops his parcels and starts misbehaving?

seeker · 07/05/2009 15:41

Oh ffs about the delivery man who's a potential paedophile. That REALLY is bonkers!!!!

BernardsCat · 07/05/2009 15:44

i think they need a kit.

BernardsCat · 07/05/2009 15:44

nothing to do with paedophiles, its just not needed adn they need to learn to change

nursery idle imo

seeker · 07/05/2009 15:44

WHY????????!

mw14 · 07/05/2009 15:44

Slushy, the risk of an harm in the manner you suggest is so tiny, it really doesn't warrent more than a second's thought.

As for sparkle's fear of a dirty floor - rather slightly grubby feet than a nasty injury!

slushy06 · 07/05/2009 15:46

I know I'm paranoid. Its just me being silly, but even so disregarding delivery peado. I mostly wouldn't like it because I think child would be picked on if he hadn't wiped properly.

seeker · 07/05/2009 15:46

Of course they need to learn to change. And they will - when they go to school. Mine couldn't, reliably and quickly at 3. Could at 5.

Sycamoretree · 07/05/2009 15:52

They do this at DD's pre-school. I was totally shocked just because it seems so completely old fashioned and unnecessary.

I always send her in jogging bottoms and vest on PE day in the vain hope they'll let her stay in those clothes.

What is the point of pants and vest?????

They say it's to do with gettin them all changed, which is crazy - am sure half of them can do it themselves already - DD can.

But anyway, just tell parents to send in appropriate clothing on that day. Grrr.

SOLOisMeredithGrey · 07/05/2009 15:54

When I was in Primary school up until the age of 11, we had to do PE in vests and knickers too. 11!!!

Sycamoretree · 07/05/2009 15:55

Just read NUMBERFOUR's post about basic respect for those who can't speak up for themselves and I think that's very well put. It's exactly how I feel about it. I mean, why NOT put them in PE kit like everyone else.

It's not about body hangups, or paedoes or skid marks for me, it's just I don't understand why we want to treat the 3 and 4 year old different to the 5 year olds.

Why?