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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

DS1 is due to start school in September. I just know he is not going to want to wear a uniform. Any tips?

26 replies

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:31

He's excited about starting school.
But after several failed attempts to get him to wear a jumper with his nursery logo on it, I decided to let him be.
Now with school, it's non-negotiable.

I mentioned it to him over dinner the other day in terms of what colour he will wear for school. He gave me one of these look , and said he didn't need to wear it.

Would it be ridiculous to get him it early and throw it in his dressing up box in the hope he'll get used to wearing it?

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FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 31/05/2009 23:33

Bribe him, 1p a week, he'll not know for a very long time how little 1p's worth.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:36

bribe him, really?
i'm not sure that's a habit i want to start this early.
then i'll have to pay him to do his homework or eat his packed lunch or remember his gym kit.

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littlelamb · 31/05/2009 23:39

Yes, dressing up box definately a good idea. From the age of about 2 to 3.5 my dd wore fancy dress to nursery every single day and by putting it in there he may actually choose to wear it himself. My dd can't wait to wear the uniform. I think it helps to be around the school at home time (there's a park near ours) so he can see all the 'big boys' wearing their uniforms.

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FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 31/05/2009 23:41

Bribe him. Maybe a sticker chart.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:41

the school is in scotland though LL, and it'll be the summer hols by the time we get there.
will get his cousins to wear there's in the summer holidays so he can see it though.

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littlelamb · 31/05/2009 23:42

hmm, hanging around the gates not really an option then
Is it maybe a bigger issue do you think? Maybe he has the wobbles about moving?

cornsilk · 31/05/2009 23:45

Can you make a little one for his favourite teddy to wear? My ds is like that about wearing uniform - it's a nightmare.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:45

no he's actually fine about the move, especially as his cousins already go to the school.
the wearing uniform thing has been an issue since he turned 3. he's not much of a follower. i can only hope he puts that to good use one day.

he opted for a monkey costume instead of suncream today

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LastOrders · 31/05/2009 23:45

We went past the school in the run up to him starting so he could see the other kids in playground wearing it.

DS was adament he wasn't wearing a uniform to which I replied no probs, but you won't be allowed to go to school without it, then I'd take him round the lunch box/schoolbag/pencil case section in John Lewis muttering "of course, you won't be needing any of this stuff if you don't go to school" which sent him into a blind panic!

He agreed to wear it if he could choose all
the extras. Worked a treat.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:46

not a bad plan cornsilk, maybe one for his power ranger.

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littlelamb · 31/05/2009 23:47

inspired! If only I'd had the same brainwave I wouldn't be sat here slathered in aloe I needn't worry too much. If he really won't wear it, I think one day of being sent to school as the only one not wearing it would quickly change his mind. I'd try and make it as exciting as you can.. Let him pick a new bag, lunchbox, and really make his first day a big deal. He sounds just like me dd though, she's far rather be a princess every day than actually wear her clothes...

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:47

that's a point lastorders. i'm sure he will ultimately wear it. i want to avoid a hideous power struggle if possible.

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cornsilk · 31/05/2009 23:49

Send him in his vest with the top in his bag if you have to. The teachers should have seen uniform aversion before!

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 31/05/2009 23:55

true, he's not going to be the first i hope.

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lilolilmanchester · 31/05/2009 23:59

Throwing in dressing up box, mini uniform for teddy, bribes - well maybe. But at the end of the day he HAS to wear it - that's the way it is. There will be lots of rules at school, uniform is just one of them. You won't be able to get him used to the other things he has to do at school. Personally, I'd say take a tough line on this one. I know this isn't easy, but honestly, he does has to get used to doing things he doesn't want to and the teachers won't have the time to break him in gently to all the other things.

S1ur · 31/05/2009 23:59

I like the dressing up idea, I say try it.

Another idea is to introduce him to the idea of super heroes in disguise - a la superman.. and get him a tommy zoom/ben 10/spiderman top he can wear under his uniform for emergencies.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 01/06/2009 00:05

i'm not sure it's worth 'taking a tough line' on. I know that he will have to wear it, i don't see any harm in using strategies to make it easier on him.
you're right, there will be lots of things that will be new to him. i'd like to deal with this issue in advance if i can.

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lilolilmanchester · 01/06/2009 00:10

Am a bit zero-tolerance about things like this, but know I'm in the minority. Hope you find something that works for your DS. Remember to post back what worked for you, cos it might help others in similar situation.

lilolilmanchester · 01/06/2009 00:12

(meant to add, my Mum was a reception teacher, so I inherited a lot of this from seeing her having to cope with a load of PFBs & their individual whims. Not trying to be harsh towards you and your DS at all)

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 01/06/2009 11:48

Have located an old school t-shirt from my sister and school are sending me an order form.

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saintmaybe · 01/06/2009 12:06

I thought primary schools couldn't legally insist on uniform. maybe that's just England. Is it really non-negotiable? Once he gets there he might decide he'd like to be like his friends? I'd be tempted to let him choose at first, and explain to school.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 01/06/2009 12:17

Schools can insist on a uniform, but there is guidance from DCSF and the Office of Fair Trading on what is reasonable for a uniform policy, in terms of cultural sensitivity, price etc. What primary schools don't have is any real sanction if pupils don't wear the uniform - they can't exclude children for not wearing uniform, for example, and just have to hope that parents will work with them.

I'm guessing that the legal situation in Scotland is similar.

Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 01/06/2009 12:29

I've spoken to my sister who says the uniform policy is fairly relaxed. He will wear the uniform i'm sure, but I will approach the issue gently.
I don't think the being like his friends thing will work. He's unbelievably single minded. Can't think where he gets that from .

I will definitely take the advice about linking it to all the cool stuff like bag, lunch box etc that he can have as part of his uniform.

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stringerbell · 01/06/2009 23:13

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Original poster

nevergoogledragonbutter · 01/06/2009 23:53

ooh that's an interesting one, I wonder what the appeal is for him.

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