Girls wearing shorts under school dresses

[eandemum]

When DD (5) started wearing her summer school uniform (the usual- checked summer dress) I got her shorts to wear. Not Bobby Charlton style really baggy ones, more like black cycling shorts in T-shirt material - we call them "modesty shorts"!!

Anyway, DD comes home on Thursday with a note re: this (all got this note not just her) - saying such shorts were not part of the uniform and shouldn't be worn (leggings were ok in certain cases).

She doesn't wear them for religious reasons - just 'preserving her dignity' - we have practised sitting in a ladylike fashion but I know this goes out the window once she is in school.

I wrote back suggesting a compromise; white shorts that don't come below the hemline (her black shorts would be at the hemline) so can't be seen.

What do you think?

I just send my daughter to school during the summer in shorts, she wouldn't wear a dress anyway.

I think that white cycling shorts under a summer dress is a very sensible idea, especially when it comes to climbing etc, no thigh chaffage. :o

I don't understand why you don't think that knickers are enough.

Sounds abit hot. Is an American idea. I went to American school in 70s and they wore them. but imo not needed in UK. Maybe little girls need to learn to not show their knickers. And if they do is it end of the world. Cant she just wear trouser and summer blouse or is that not allowed at your school. In a couple of years she will want to be same as friends not different too.

By Y6 my dd had started to wear cycling shorts under school dresses because the boys were obsessed about trying to see their knickers. Plus how can you do cartwheels at lunchtime otherwise! But that came from her. She did sometimes wear shorts to school but found them v hot. They ended up with boys shorts.

If its a state school they can't enforce a uniform so your DD can wear what she wants.

Now the weather is better lots of our girls spend playtimes doing handstands and cartwheels on the field. A few were concerned about boys commenting on their knickers so started wearing shorts under their skirts and now it seems to be the "fashion" and they almost all do, regardless of whether they do playtime gymnastics. Most wear white above the knee type leggings, so we're not worried. If it makes them happy, fine. In fact they look quite pretty as they are edged with lace.

I didn't realise that state schools can't enforce uniform?
But I am quite happy to tow the school policy line!!

Yes agree knickers should be enough - but they always seem to 'gape'
Maybe I need to have something else to over think/fuss about :)

DD's school have complained about the girls wearing leggings under their gingham dresses, so i have managed to get her some cotton cycling shorts...which was tricky, the fashion appears to be hot pants in quite 'stiff' materials and there were hardly any in the shops.

I was considering getting MIL to run up some loose shorts in matching gingham that cant be seen at the hemline easily for future years. I expect if she could do a job lot then she could sell them to all the mothers in the playground and start a fashion .

The hemline (and sleeves actually) of the summer dresses seem to be creeping up, I went to John Lewis specially for dd's (just covers the knee if she stands still) the supermarket ones were very short.

Ohh! That reminds me; a couple of my class last year wore gingham shorts and the white short sleeved polo teeshirts (part of the winter uniform). I thought that was great and looked for some for my DD in her school's colour, but to no avail. I promised her I'd find or make some for this summer. Anyone seen any or will I be getting my sewing machine out between school reports this holiday?

I would ask the school why its a problem?

I have boy's so i don't have this problem but if i had a girl, knowing she'd be likely to be doing cartwheel's and handstands etc a "discreate" pair of tight fitting shorts seems a reasonable way of keeping abit of modesty while allowing her to have fun.

Honestly i don't know what the fuss is about, they are just a pair of shorts so i would challenge the reasoning and see if the school where willing to comprimise. If not ask if it's acceptable for the girls to wear pants. i know a couple of girls at my sons school who wear pants for none religious reasons im guessing they just like them.

Also another suggestion what about getting some knickers like these??

cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-womens-girls-boxer-shorts-s-m-and-l-xl-quick-postage-/330471750916?pt=UK_Women_s_Lingerie&var=&hash=item7dbb688109

I used to be a dancer and i used to wear them under the flimsey costumes to keep "everything in place and covered up"

Not sure how easy they would be to get in small sizes for primary school childen (again sorry i don't have girls) i bought mine in primary for about £1 a pair and the size 6 is pretty tiny would easily fit a 10-11 year old i would imagine because they stretch.

Err bought in primark!!

I've noticed the hemlines creeping up too. DD is quite tall so I have to buy about three sizes bigger or it looks like a mini. Wish they'd allow shorts for girls as well, then no need for this dress and shorts nonsense. DD loves doing cartwheels but feels too shy once it gets to summer-dress weather.

Lots of girls at DDs school are wearing culottes with their usual school shirts - looks very practical.

Yes this years dress designs seem to be far too short! Dd is tall, but having to size up by at least 3 years, so then they're baggy on the top half.

In my day we just tucked our dresses into our knickers.

We survived.

It's bizarre that on the one hand you have teenagers heading out wearing next to nothing and celebrities/pop stars clothed in... virtually nothing - yet people are fussed about their daughters showing a pair of knickers!

In my day we wore vest and pants to do PE. Who cared? No-one. Pants aren't something "dirty" - they're pants.

I hate these dresses. My eldest is a boy (youngest a girl but not yet school age). Anyway, I'm waiting to pick DS up one day, lots of kids sitting on carpet in summer uniform. Boys fine - shorts covering. But one girl - cross legged - knickers on display - also moving knickers aside to scratch fanjo! Also, these dresses can be hazardous when climbing. I think that the white little shorts under the dress sound perfect myself. Better still, I would like to see the option for girls to wear shorts in summer. My DD wears shorts/cropped leggings in the summer all the time and the only time she will need to wear a summer dress is for school.

hmm people who say that clearly haven't heared the things some of the little angel's in my nieghbourhood say. Clearly they are too young to understand it but i dont think id like to hear boys shouting likes like "I can see your C**T to my daughter"(if i had one of course) which i have heard from kids as young as 4.

bluebobbin if they are wearing shorts/trousers they just put their hand down to scratch.
What sort of message are we giving young children that they can't play/sit on the carpet for fear of showing their pants

My Dd's school has banned leggings under dresses. It's not a modesty thing - it's practical. If they fall over, they fall onto a covered knee not a bare one. I really can't see why it is a problem.

I don't see why the girls have to have their underwear on display though. The boys have theirs tucked away neatly and out of sight, so why not let girls do the same as well?

Get to H&M and buy your dds boxer style pants, they look like hotpant shorts - great coverage

mrz - I don't think I would have minded a child of either gender putting hands down shorts for a scratch. But when the knickers are already on display and they are moved aside for a scratch there was really far too much on display.

I used to tuck my dress into my knickers to do cartwheels and handstands etc. Has never entered my head to get shorts for DD to wear under her dress - and calling them "modesty shorts" feels weird IMO.