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

[AngelaChill]

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 ?

The uniform doesn't bother me that much, but why do 5 year olds have to wear such dull, black shoes to school? You can't get a boy's shoe in bright colours over a size 10. Seems such a shame to have to start wearing such boring shoes at such a young age.

Socks not covered by the uniform code. I feel quite mischievavous for putting the brightest, most garish socks I can on dd, heehee

I think that a school uniform is an excellent thing. We were dirt poor growiing up and went to a non uniform school. the only thing that stopped us from having teasing and being treated like 2nd class citizens - even thought we had free school dinners - was the fact that my mum dressed us in a uniform grey skirt / pinafore white or yellow shirt / jumper. our own clothes would have been a dead give away. wear a uniform should help create a sense of community - why do team wear kits? its not just so they can see their player other wise they would say as long as its red you can wear what you want etc. on the robbing of identity argument all I can say if someone thinks that you should judge a child by what he or she wears ( ie they have no identity) than that person lives in a world with a very limited perspective.

AC - not sure why you've taken offence - I've merely expressed my opinion about the importance of uniform, and pointed out the fact that there is some really bad spelling and grammar in some anti-uniform posts- which there is!

Your comment, "wouldn't it be easier to dress them in a jogging suit" perfectly sums up the situation in my mind. There are lots of situations in life where it might be easier to do something which is actually not in the child's best interests in the longer term, but is easier or more convenient for parents. This extends to food choices, discipline, behaviour...

Anyway, I'm sure what someone else posted is probably true - your daughter's meltdown is probably less to do with her uniform, and more to do with being overwhelmed by the whole starting school thing.

Did you have a 'practice run' with her full uniform in the weeks/ days beforehand? DS2 was wearing bits of his for at least 2 weeks before.

LittleSarah - yes, perfectly behaved, I agree!

Madness - Respect.... presentations and babies definitely hard to to juggle....

spidermama you show me where I can buy trousers for my ds1 that cost only £6 (that's "ethical" (I am told) retailer M&S) and I'll show you joggers from Asda. And they certainly are not so crap they fall apart. He grows out of em first.

Interesting aside: when I was in the sixth form (as I believe they still call it) uniform was optional, and yet I would say easily 3/4 of us still wore it. A dam' sight easier than deciding which trendy bit of kit to put on a have ripped apart by the really trendy people.

sorry angelachill did read the op but side tracked by the 'uniform issue' agree that it might just be settling teething. hopefully over the next week or so she will settle into it and might actually grow to love her uniform. my dd had friends come for tea today and stayed in her uniform so she could show one of her friends who went to a difference school. She is very proud of having a school uniform because it means that she is a big girl. I was dead against all that teflon but it sure is practical.

we got cheap uniforms - bought them all on special offer. asda 25% off - m&s buy one get one half price. the only place that wasnt on offer was a pinafore from john lewis but it was still really reasonable. we are lucky that the school doesnt make you only go to one shop. I may get a few things for ds for next years reception if things get reduced further.

Am in a secondary school so it may be different but I am very much for uniform , as MB and hula said behaviour improves as unforms are enforced - our kids our wild on non uniform days. Our attendance plumets when we have non uniform days as the kids have nothing to wear - for similar reason lots of our kids don't come on trips.

My dd school (state) has a formal uniform, shirt, pinafore tie etc they are not even allowed to wear elasticated ties in reception. I find the tie a bit if a bind as does the teacher at PE time but I love to see her in her uniform as does dd. Much easier than the morning tantrums and lenght debates we used to ahve before nursery about what to wear. I can't bear the polo neck uniforms and was quite relived that our first choice school has a more traditional uniform.

Actually I don't get what is not practical about pinafores? Other than getting changed for PE. I send DD (2) to nursery in them. Granted they are often denim ones but they wear well and she is happy doing the full range of activities in them.

Also most state schools allow girls to wear trousers either.

really? all the grils wear trousers in the state schools around here. Primary and secondary

I like my kids to look smart (at least when they start the day anyhow)and its good for them to feel like they belong somewhere and dressing like there peers gives that sense of belonging.Anyhow if i sent them anywhere in a tracksuit in public my eldest daughter would be coughing into her hand and shouting chav everytime she saw them.

Jogging suits.. whatever next, Hooded blazers?

alex8 her a lot of the girls wear trousers in secondary but very few in primary. At our primary the boys are also in shorts until year 6.

I think jogging suits are a fab idea. And hoodies would be good too.

Who cares about them looking smart? They're 4, ffs!

Dh had a uniform, I didn't. I am way way smarter and have much better fashion sense that him. I rest my case.

No uniform here at kindy - where you would be at 4.

At 5 it's big school - but unless you go to a posh school (and they can be state or private) you just have to wear school colour tracksuit pants, a polo shirt and a fleece. And some of the money you spend on them goes back to the school.

I'm not a fan of uniform particularly, but at least they can run around and climb on things and be kids in this one. They don't really have to get changed for sport either and so they have more learning time and less getting in and out of costumes.

Two days into reception and my DS loves his uniform - shirt and proper knotted tie just like his daddy. I loathe jogging bottoms, will not have them in the house until compulsory for PE, football practice etc (but then we do live near Staines, spiritual home of ALI G and i don't want my kids mistaken for chavs

am not really a uniform type of person, tbh.

kids work is playing, imo, and a tracksuit is a good uniform for that.

I wear a uniform out of choice (am self employed) but it has to meet 2 criteria - I have to jump around in it and it has to look smart and tidy to other people (as I am "in charge")

I find that a logoed top and fleece, black pants and comfy shoes are perfectly adequate for both those. I would find it strange though to go into a school to work where the kids couldn't move around as well as me because they were wearing full uniform.

Just found another reason to hate school uniforms. Ds lost his school sweater (with logo so more expensive..)after wearing it ONCE. Went in the school to look for it and there were millions of same coloured sweaters/school jackets/cardigans. Gave up ...(yes, his name was written inside it)