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Original poster

Why can't reception children just wear a jogging suit ?

171 replies

AngelaChill · 18/09/2006 14:02

My poor little mite hates her uniform, shirt, pinny and cardigan and had a complete melt down this morning (her first day). She's only just 4 and I can't see why they can't just wear comfy clothes surely that would make the teachers life easier too ?

OP posts:
LittleSarah · 18/09/2006 20:55

Meant to end that with a !

Jimjams2 · 18/09/2006 20:57

oh god no buttons on a 4 year old are a right PITA. I rpacticed with ds2 as well, biut now he's got to school he's told me "I don't need to know how to do it because the teacher helps me". And I keep on taking off ds2's tie then losing it.

DS1's is so much better. Just a problem qwhen I go away and other people have to remember which colour day it is.

TellItHowItIs · 18/09/2006 21:04

But LittleSarah - honestly, I DO believe it is as important as the food issue (although clearly different). Many children now live in fragmented family settings with few or no rules/ little discipline and a complete lack of belonging and family identity. Feeling part of something like a school can actually help them in the wider socialisation process.

It might seem like a little thing - uniform vs non-uniform, but it's just one of a number of little things which add up to either total harmony, or total chaos.

How soon before it becomes:

  • My child doesn't like going to school at 9.00, so she'll come in at 9.30
  • My child doesn't like doing her homework, so I'll let her off it
  • My child doesn't like the fruit snack, so I'm going to hide a chocolate bar in her bag
  • My child doesn't like the food, so I'm going to feed her chips through the railings
  • My child doesn't like her teacher, so she called her a f*cking cow
  • My child has an ASBO......
Eowyn · 18/09/2006 21:09

it hadn't occurred to me that uniform would be a problem when dd started school, she was so proud & looked so fantastically cute in her new uniform, it wouldn't have felt so special if she'd worn ordinary stuff.

also, she takes ages deciding what to wear at weekends

this saves nice clothes from a lot of wear & tear

on the occasional mufti day they come in looking like deranged fairies/princesses, not sure that would be good every day

uniforms are so cheap, I've bought an asda skirt this term cos it looks so nice !

polo shirts, skirts, pinnies, trousers, everyone looks different yet together

think that's all for now...

LittleSarah · 18/09/2006 21:10

Yes but I would never allow my child to behave the way you mentioned and I also didn't behave that way myself, so I don't like to think that if you don't wear a uniform you are going to turn into a little thug/criminal/or similar!

If my daughter's school said she had to wear a uniform then she would. Honest!

madness · 18/09/2006 21:11

TellItHowItIs: ha-ha. I'm indeed very anti-uniform and my spelling on mumsnet may not be up to scratch. But I don't think it's that bad considering I have a 8 week old baby in my lap and I am also in the middle of preparing a presentation for an international scientific meeting at the same time. In addition English is my third languague. As far as my education goes, well I suspect my degrees are higher then most other posters on this thread...
O and I have a spying husband lurking around...

handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:13

Lordy lor tellithowitis, I've caught up on this thread again and you've been most frightfully provocative

LittleSarah · 18/09/2006 21:13

Also, I think we are talking about a far wider problem now, one which needs a whole lifestyle change (for some).

handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:15

"As far as my education goes, well I suspect my degrees are higher then most other posters on this thread... "

Steady on Madness! ..we've had enough elitism on this thread

laneydaye · 18/09/2006 21:18

why do people have to get bitchy?

we are all allowed our own opinion...
we are all so different!
some of you need to get a life and grow up!!!! and get your kids a uniform..xx (last bit is a joke)
ooh joke...funny...ha ha... chill out will ya...

handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:20

That was helpful...

madness · 18/09/2006 21:21

handlemecarefully, most, not everyone. Also need a bit of fun as distraction from my boring presentation

laneydaye · 18/09/2006 21:21

thankyou..xx

hulababy · 18/09/2006 21:22

So this thread has now established...

some parents like uniform
some parents don't like uniform
and most don't like jogging suits at all

That the general consensus then?

Original poster
AngelaChill · 18/09/2006 21:23

How soon before it becomes:

  • My child doesn't like going to school at 9.00, so she'll come in at 9.30
  • My child doesn't like doing her homework, so I'll let her off it
  • My child doesn't like the fruit snack, so I'm going to hide a chocolate bar in her bag
  • My child doesn't like the food, so I'm going to feed her chips through the railings
  • My child doesn't like her teacher, so she called her a f*cking cow
  • My child has an ASBO......

Absolutely a million miles away from a tiny tot not being comfortable in a pinafore, get a grip woman.
I can only assume you are the editor of the daily mail, oh and I have a first in english literature, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:23

All respect to you Madness working on a presentation having only just given birth 8 weeks ago! I could not possibly have considered doing anything more complicated than making a cup of tea 8 weeks post partum..

handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:23

lol hulababy - that is indeed the general consensus

laneydaye · 18/09/2006 21:24

spot on hulababy..
i personally think its brilliant that we are not all the same..xx

hulababy · 18/09/2006 21:25

That's all right then - couldn't face re-reading the rest of the posts!

handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:27

Angelachill,

Going back to your OP, are you absolutely sure that it is a loathing of the school uniform that caused your dd to have a melt down...rather than her struggling to adjust to school (as many children do).....Perhaps the uniform aversion was just her way of expressing reservations about school?

madness · 18/09/2006 21:27

handlemecarefully I'm not progressing very well and have decided it's bedtime now

Spidermama · 18/09/2006 21:29

Don't let her get to you Angela. It obvious to anyone with any sense that she's not as clever as she likes to think she is, even though she's twice as rude.

But then again, years of swimming with the tide can do that to you I've heard. It can knock the humanity from you.

Original poster
AngelaChill · 18/09/2006 21:31

You are probably spot on handlemecarefully, this "debate" seems to have lost sight of, well the whole point being, goodness wouldn't it be easier to dress them in a jogging suit.
I expect DD will be nicking cars at playtime if she goes in her pe kit again tomorrow, that's if she can move her lardy 4 year old arse from in from of the TV and get her tag through the front door

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 18/09/2006 21:34

lol!

LittleSarah · 18/09/2006 21:38

You know for a non uniform wearing child I think I have behaved in a rathered reasoned way on this thread!

Good girl!