Body Privacy in primary schools PE

[MiniqBrown]

Hi Guys!!

I raised an issue with my 4yo school about body privacy in PE- turns out in most schools across the UK girls and boys must change in front of each other until year 6! I was unimpressed as my dd tends to accidentally take her pants off whenever she gets changed! And there was also a girl in her class whose body was made fun of by boys and I thought it was unacceptable. Not to mention I got my period in year 4 and was wearing a bra- cannot imagine the humiliation of having to change in front of boys back then!

I started a petition to have a policy which makes schools allow separate changing- girls in classroom, boys in hall kind of thing, nothing drastic! If you care about this issue please sign the petition and pass it round. Trying to get the Secretary of Education to respond and it seems they only respond to numbers!

bit.ly/changePE

Happy to be a part of the mumsnet crew!!

Assuming 'kids are kids' doesnt work for everyone. Sexual abuse exists and is not as uncommon as people like to think-

Not between 4 yo. I suspect you are doing far more damage to your kid with your attitude, and sadly setting them up to be victims rather than developing a sense of what's appropriate and what isn't.

This is utterly bonkers.
There is no harm that is going to come to very young children from changing in front of each other.
They tend to change separately from Yr4/5 onwards anyway.

I had exactly the same issue with my DD in year 4. She started developing and felt uncomfortable changing in front of the boys... at first school was not supportive of providing separate changing rooms. (Luck of space and not enough staff.)
Anyways I made a point in not allowing DD take part in PE... and suprise: Girls could change in a different room from the boys!
(PS my schools always had separate changing rooms- was shocked when I found out it's not the norm here.)

No, I won't sign. I think it's a bit weird to think that 4 yo s shouldn't see each other's bodies - it's kind of burdening them with a sexuality/ sense of shame that just is t there. Is your dd going to see a penis for the first time on her wedding night? They look rather dull imo so I hope she isn't too The time for separate changing is y5/6 or if the children ask for it in y4. My y 3s can change in 2 mins (boast!) timer on the board and they all do it! No time for thinking about anyone else.

Ylva ops daughter is 4 years old not in year 4!

I think this is more a case of some adults projecting their fears/feelings onto children, which is never a good thing.