DS wants to wear girls uniform - do I let him?

[BedHog]

My DS is in Reception at school. The uniform, like a lot of schools, is made up of various items of clothing which can be mixed and matched. One of the items is a cardigan made from sweatshirt type fabric. DS has said he'd prefer this to the standard sweatshirt.

I had a word with his teacher and she said she has only ever seen the cardigans being worn by girls. Normally I'm very much of the opinion that people should wear what they like regardless of gender, but in this case I'm not sure if it would lead to teasing if he was the only boy in school in a cardy. I've explained to DS that the cardigans are usually for girls, like skirts and pinafores etc., but he is still insistent that he wants to wear one.

What would you do? Shall I buy him a cardigan?

[UniS]

DS wears zip cardigans ( otherwise known as hoodies) . A few boys do wear cardis knitted or sweatshirt type. Plenty of girls wear sweatshirts.

As you have a DD buy one. It'll get used while it fits each of them.

[Tallylo]

In my school a number of boys wear them, I don't think they are for girls but simply an alternative. Far more practical IMO

[minnyhaha]

Are you serious? Are you mad? Seriously he'll be teased to death at some stage. If he wanted to wear a skrit would you let him? If his teacher is telling you that ALL the boys wear sweat shirts or whatever then listen up! The unsaid message is- do not make your child stand out like a sore thumb, for any reason.

We know that some boys wear cardis- though I can't think of many except very elderly uncles- but if it's not the done thing then think of him- don't rationalise it. At 4 he should be doing what his parents think is right for him- not what he wants.

[Clary]

No it's not a good idea.

He wil be teased, I am sorry, and I know people say "children will always find something to tease about" yes maybe, but why give them a handle?

If anyone else wore them in school then maybe, but it sounds like they don't. I see I am in the minority here but most people who say yes also say lots of boys wear them at their school.

[MrsRhettButler]

Ok, I'm not usually one for letting little boys wear girls clothes but seriously, cardy? I would let him if it were me. my dd wears those sweatshirt material cardys so I know the ones you mean and they are not girly.

[coldcupoftea]

I agree, we have similar cardigans and they are not girly at all, although in our school the girls do tend to wear cardigans.

We also has a school zip-up fleece, they seem to be worn by both boys and girls. If you are worried he will be teased, do your school do a fleece unstead?

[PixieHat]

At my daughter's school, the girls wear cardigans and the boys wear sweatshirts.

Except that a few of the boys wear the cardigans and a few of the girls wear sweatshirts.

Both made out of that sweatshirt material with the school logo embroidered on.

No one bats an eyelid

[Chopstheduck]

He is 4, let him have the cardy!

A few children will make comments, and then it will all blow over, and no one will bat an eyelid. It is secondary where he will be teased mercilessly and his life made a misery!


Is he confident in general?

my ds1 was the first boy to wear a dress to Pink Day, year 3 - I wasn't sure about letting him and he got a real ribbing! But he started a trend, and by year 6, there were that many boys wearing dresses that he decided to go as a flying pig with glittery wings instead!
My twins are the only ones that wear plain red jumpers from M&S instead of the horrid acrylic school sweatshirts. Half the price and twice as smart. A few kids asked them why, and then it was dropped, and no more said.
DT2 had long hair for years, and was asked several times if he was a girl. He just shrugged it off and looked at the askers as if they had lost their marbles!

Children should be encouraged to have the confidence to buck the trend, and express themselves!

[Chopstheduck]

isn't secondary

[MegBusset]

I have seen plenty of boys at DS1's school wearing cardigans. I fail to see why they shouldn't be worn by either gender.

[minnyhaha]

OP have you made a decision yet?

I think some posters are missing the point: which is that NO boys in his class wear cardis. It's pointless all you other posters saying "In my child's school they each wear cardis and sweatshirts." The point is in THIS boy's class they DON'T!

And it's silly to say he won't be teased because he's only 4- and not at sec school. Younger children can be every bit as cruel.

You need to pick your battles- there are kids who are teased about things they can't control such as being " a ginger" or having sticky out teeth or sticky out ears- why make his life potentially miserable when it's something so easily sorted?

[minnyhaha]

I'm actually a bit puzzled really as to how the matter of " choice" arose. OP . Did you show him each in a shop, or what? Or has he seen other children wearing them and not noticed the gender differences?
When my kids were 4 I just bought them the uniform while they were at nursery.- choice wasn't something they were involved in.

[MrsRhettButler]

Dd1 prefers the cardy because it doesn't mess her hair as she doesn't have to pull it over her head. I guess that's some sort of choice? Tbh I don't care what she wears as long as it looks smart and I didn't miss the point, none of the boys in dd's school wear the cardy but if I had a son I would let him wear it, I don't think it looks girly at all.

[MrsRhettButler]

Also she often ears it open if she gets a bit hot but doesn't have to take it off alltogether and get too cold. I think they're great and I'm surprised more parents don't buy them for boys or girls tbh. Not even many of the girls wear them in dd's school, she's more or less the only one.

[Mrskbpw]

I was just wishing the other day that my son had a cardi actually. Why not let him wear it. He won't be teased. They won't even notice.