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?

[BelleDameSansMerci]

I am the first to have a good rant about anything that seems to inhibit a girl's right to freedom etc but, in this case, I think the shorts encourage the freedom. If it's necessary that a girl has to wear a dress (and, really, why is that?) and having shorts means that she can run, climb, do gymnastics or whatever more comfortably then I'm all for it.

There was a post early in the thread that said that perhaps young girls should be taught not to show their knickers ie not leap around, do cartwheels, etc. I find that idea much more concerning than the idea of wearing shorts under a dress.

Having said that, trying to get my DD (only 3.9) into a pair of shorts is impossible. It's a dress and knickers all the way so my thoughts on this will probably fall on stoney ground once they're even relevant.

[SoupDragon]

Fairydoll, I thought you said that you think it better for her to wear shorts so her skiddy/wee stained pants weren't on show?

[Ephiny]

I remember in infant school we used to have to do PE in our vests and knickers! It was just normal, not embarassing or sexual or anything - how things have changed if 5 year old girls now have to worry about 'modesty' and being 'ladylike' and 'suggestive' comments from the boys...

[mrz]

Things haven't changed most 5 year olds don't worry about modesty in the slightest.

[fairydoll]

well I guess I wouldn't want her skidders on show if they were less than clean as they sometimes are.thinking about it this may be why she doesn't want to show them either an wears shorts under a dress of school trousers.
Stangely she has no qualms at all about leotards even with male coaches, or with swimming costumes.

[SycamoretreeIsVile]

I am tempted to say get over it. My DD is 5 nearly 6 and neither she nor any of her mates seem to care less about flashing their pants whilst swinging from the monkey bars.

[SycamoretreeIsVile]

And the boys couldn't be less interested in what the girls are up to.

[sunnyday123]

ive not read all the thread but kind of agree with the school - i have seen a couple of kids from other schools wearing shorts under their dresses and they look rather scruffy. I think if the dress is the right length she should be able to manage - RIGHT length being the key word as i see so many girls with dresses above the knee and it seams inappropriate.

[silverfrog]

oh dear god. now a 5 year old wearing a dress above the knee is inappropriate

words fail me...

[sunnyday123]

obviously im not talking about dresses just above the knee but i honestly think very short dresses for school look awful - clearly too small. My DD is 5 and i buy her age 6-7 dresses as the age 5 ones just about cover her bum, its not a good look regardless of their innocence. Why anyone would want their child going out with a dress just skimming her knickers is beyond me but still apparently common.

[mrz]

problem solved!

[silverfrog]

(mind you, that is what dd2 will look like if I put her in her sister's outgrown dresses now - dd1 is taaaalllll, and dd2 is tiny. more shopping it is )

[MummyDoIt]

Blimey, if they're in tight lycra cycling shorts all day, everyday, over a hot summer, they'll all have outbreaks of thrush.

Mind you, I've very impressed at the need to preserve modesty while doing cartwheels and handstands - our primary school banned those ages ago (on health and safety grounds, not modesty).

[MayDayChild]

Have come to this thread a bit late and confess to skim reading
BUT
those of you saying get better fitting knickers please tell me where you buy them from because I'm despairing this issue with my DD who is so skinny and has tiny thin legs. I have yet to find these knickers you seem to have. I can't afford the Boden ones. But have tried
Tesco
Hennes
John Lewis
Marks
Sainsbury
Mothercare
What am I missing. Her mini is always gaping out.
And groan she is tall so think I may have this short summer dress prob too. You know it's not fashion but money saving using less material. Bane of my (tall) life!

[TheFeministsWife]

I wouldn't care if the school says girls aren't allowed shorts/trousers. Firstly because primary schools can't enforce school uniform and secondly because it's gender discrimination to not allow girls to wear shorts/trousers. My dd1 is a complete tomboy and has refused point blank to wear a dress or skirt since she was 3! She wears trousers to school and in the summer she wears shorts. I've found Next has some gorgeous school shorts for girls and she loves them because they've got pockets. School have never said anything about it.

DD2 starts school in September and she refuses to wear trousers or dresses/skirts unless they've got leggings underneath. So looks like I'm going to have let her wear leggings under her school skirt as she'll refuse to wear school trousers she says they're uncomfortable. She'll probably wear shorts in the summer though.

I personally think girls look much better in trousers or shorts for school. Almost like they look more equal to the boys than if they wear dresses or skirts.

[mrz]

Funnily enough I've just been reading a post on another forum that claims it is discriminatory that girls can wear skirts or trousers for schools and if boys had equality they could do the same

[MayDayChild]

Madam death skorts have only just arrived on sports scene (Netball etc) so hopefully someone will do them in school uniform soon.

[mrz]

Children should be able to wear dresses skirts shorts trousers but the idea of wearing "modesty" shorts under a dress is somehow perverse in a five year old.

[SpringHeeledJack]

gosh

'modesty shorts'? 'sitting in a ladylike manner'?

preserving the 'dignity' of a 5 yo?

[mrz]

I'll ask again what is so wrong with seeing someone's undies (especially a 5 year old somebody) is it different to the the beach or dance/gymnastics leotard?

[LilRedWG]

Buy the girl properly fitting knickers and then she won't need her, "modesty shorts".

[LilRedWG]

Forgot my