skirt hating daughter

[pinklemonade84]

Dd (4) starts school in September and we're in the process of sorting uniform

We'd found some skorts at sainsburys and I'd needed to buy size 6 in them, to find that they've now been discontinued in the grey.

Normal skirts don't sit right on dd and always ride up. I've tried a pair of shorts from next, but there was no give in them and no elastic whatsoever and mil said she looked weird in them and not like a "proper little school girl".

I've spotted some culottes on Sainsburys that we'll try next, but if they don't fit, I'm not sure what to do to be honest.

We don't have a big enough tesco in our town, so it doesn't have the clothes department, but I don't mind driving to the next town along if needs be, if anyone knows what they have available?

Most school trousers/shorts have plenty of stretch in. I wouldn't go hunting for culottes if what she really wants are trousers/shorts. Go for the type of trousers/shorts that either have fully elasticated waists or adjustable waists with an elastic strip that you button to the right length. Might be easier to find in "boys" due to the trend for tight fitting trousers for girls? I don't know though, DD just adopted DS's hand-me-downs when she decided she preferred trousers. We had a child who needed cotton so fewer choices, of those we found M&S cotton trousers a bit stiff, JL very elasticated.

And you might need to explain to MIL that times have changed, they seem to spend most of reception crawling round the classroom floor one way or another and trousers are a practical and comfortable choice. Only time the tops of DC's school shoes got more wear than the soles!

Trousers for when it is colder and summer dress (you can get them with shorts instead of the skirt part) for when it is warmer.

PS she looks super cute in her shorts, MIL is being ridiculous.

Does it have to be grey most schools allow black or grey? Asda have black skorts.

The fact that 4 year olds have to wear uniform at all is ridiculous. Let alone look like a proper little school girl.

Why the ever loving fuck would you put her in skirts or dresses if she doesn’t like them?
Gingham playsuits and plain grey shorts and trousers abound for girls’ uniform. You can even get ones with flower details on the zips to make sure everyone knows they are for girls

We've got her one of the gingham playsuits to see what she thinks and that was a hit (sainsburys £4.50) so I'll definitely buy her another one or two of them

I'll be buying her trousers for when it gets colder, but it's often still warmish in September, so I'd prefer shorts or skorts for her until it gets too cold.

I'll have a nosey on Matalan and try and pop to a bigger tesco too. I'll also go to our bigger sainsburys again to have a look at the shorts (I tend to go an hour before closing so it's quieter)

My girls have Asda jersey trousers - like a cross between joggers and leggings.direct.asda.com/george/school/trousers/girls-grey-straight-leg-school-trouser-2-pack/GEM663832,default,pd.html?cgid=D10M2G1C21

They also do a skort if 4-5 would fit direct.asda.com/george/school/shorts/girls-grey-flippy-school-skort/GEM704110,default,pd.html?cgid=D10M2G1C20

Dd (8) hates skirts and dresses. She has worn shorts to school since halfway through reception. I used to get her the tailored girls shorts from M&S or Next, but actually, she prefers boy’s shorts, which are cheaper , or free if she wears old ones of DS’s.

Bit of advice with the play suits, make sure she has plenty of practice taking them off for using the toilet. Especially if she’s wearing a jumper/cardigan over the top.

How is she going to nip to the toilet in the playsuit?

My DD didn't wear dresses or skirts in primary either.

M&S do lovely girls shorts and this is what DD wore. Also agree that boys shorts are a good option.

Some girls at my primary (where I work) have playsuits but I wouldn't recommend, as they have to strip off to go to the toilet (clothes on floor) and are more likely to have accidents.

We've had soft jersey trousers from sainsburys before (not far off leggings), but they didn't look great after a while of washing them- went all bobbly.

We've also had trousers from M and S which have been amazing- adjustable waists and wash really well. More expensive though.

Ignore MIL, she should be able to wear what she wants. Shorts and trousers are so much more practical than skirts, and if she'd prefer them too then go for it.

I'd teach her how to go to the toilet and get herself in and out of it. If she's happier in a playsuit, then that's what I'll get her for when it's warmer

My dd wears Sainsburys boy cargo shorts-with the patch pocket on the leg. They're quite tailored-looking and they look ace and even more so with tights under in the cold weather.

My kids' school has banned play suits (unhygienic because they tend to fall onto floor during toilet breaks) and skorts (no idea).

Have you checked the school uniform policy? If the school allow go for boy shorts - they usually have elasticated waists for easy (panicked!) access at toilet break time.

She looks ridiculously cute in her shorts! Your MIL is being silly. I’ve noticed ‘boy’ style shorts are becoming much more popular with girls at DS’s school. They’re much more practical too.

I hope the day comes when school uniform is unisex. Shorts and trousers for everyone, especially in primary, makes alot of sense.

Play suits not good for school - they’ll be dropped in the puddle of wee that’s always on infant toilet floors!

But would that not be the same for shorts and trousers? I hope I'm not coming across as argumentative, it's a genuine question as I've never done this before.

Just put her in trousers. Boys only wear shorts in the summer term in my DC's primary school, it's fine.

Will the school allow a playsuit (our DC's school wouldn't?)

Trousers/shorts are different because they are normally elasticated at this age so you just pull them down when you want to go to the toilet. with a playsuit you have to practically take the whole thing off.

If she doesn't like skirts/dresses just buy her trousers for September - there isn't really enough weeks of warm weather to bother with a warm weather option, and reassess in summer.

Shorts and trousers are less likely to fall onto the floor as they are (a) less billowy (b) less material so lighter, and overall this makes them easier to gather at your knees.

If it's warm it will only be for 2-3 weeks tops and many schools don't allow gingham in the autumn term.

Just send her in trousers if that's what hat she likes. Your MIL is being bizarre with "proper little schoolgirl" comments - she looks adorable in the photos.

She might change her mind about pinafores and skirts if she sees other girls wearing them. I wouldn't use the play suit - there's a high chance of the toilet floor being wet when she takes it off and that will be uncomfortable all day. Shorts/trousers will be more practical.

You can get jersey school trousers btw

direct.asda.com/george/school/trousers/girls-grey-straight-leg-school-trouser-2-pack/GEM663832,default,pd.html?cgid=D10M2G1C21

Mil doesn't agree with how I dress dd as it is. Dd is on quite a few teams on Instagram for small businesses, and she gets sent quite a bit (I hate how braggy that sounds), mil says we should be dressing her like normal children and not the "ridiculous strange stuff" that we do (yet it's only t shirts, shorts or leggings that she wears)

I'll have a nosey for the shorts and maybe give the playsuits a miss then. Dh is going to order the stretch shorts from sainsburys for her tonight to try