Shirts vs Polos

[glowfrog]

Hello all

I've only ever bought polos for my girls' uniform but I wonder if shirts would be better - less warm, easier to iron and maybe also keep clean?

Anyone using shirts that would recommend them over polos? Or do they just keep with their own, different set of problems?

I find polos much easier to iron. They are also easier for the child to wear as they do not have to worry about the buttons. Do your children have a preference?

I have never needed to iron a polo shirt. I used to wear them for work.

My DC wear shirts to school - the first primary school they went to only allowed shirts for the uniform, and they wanted to keep wearing shirts at their new primary school (which gives the option of shirts or polos in their uniform code).

The main difference between the two is that shirts are harder for a young child to put on by themselves, specifically because of the buttons. Even once they’ve mastered buttons it takes longer to change into / out of a shirt than it does a polo, which may be an problem on PE days.

There’s no difference in keeping them clean either IME.

Shirts are much, much better.
Polos never look good, it doesn’t matter how much you iron them, the “dragged through a hedge backwards” look is unavoidable with the cheap polycotton stuff. I guess that also means you don’t have to iron them as they look crap anyway. But I don’t like my kids to look unkempt before the even leave the house.
Shirts are much lighter in summer, and you can get cotton easily. And you can easily get long sleeves for winter.
Many school shirts have velcro behind the first 2 buttons, making them just as easy to take on/off as school shirts.
School shirts wash better as well as stains don’t go so deep - poloshirts have a textured surface that seems to magically hold stains.

My DC wear shirts. I (and they) prefer them to polos - they are easier to keep looking smart, and they prefer the long sleeves.
It's true the buttons can be fiddly for some children, but it's never been a problem for mine.

Are you allowed to choose? I would have thought the school would specify one or the other.

We went through a phase of shirts when they were in fashion in DD's primary. I was so glad to go back to polos, they need less ironing. Mainly I would put them in what their friends wear - feeling that they fit in helps.

Also white shirts tend to be a bit more see-through, which doesn't matter with little ones but can get to be an issue with girls in upper primary and beyond.

DS' school offers the choice between shirts or polos (in four different colours) or t-shirts (also in four different colours). He hasn't started, yet, but I think we'll go for a mix of polos and t-shirts, since I don't fancy ironing shirts and he's too little for them. I'm not a fan of nursery/reception kids in shirts. It just looks so uncomfortable and impractical.

I prefer mine in shirts. I just think after a week or so the collars on polos look scruffy. Were shirts always look crisp and smart

Do your kids wear the same shirt for the whole week?
DS wears something new every day. I wouldn't put the same top on him two days in a row. He's messy and sometimes has to get changed during the day (the water tray is his favourite place and he loves to paint).

Mine wear both. They are encouraged to wear polos when they have PE for ease of changing, but shirts look smarter for photos and assemblies.

No they wear a clean one every day for the 5 days. I mean after they have been worn once or twice I would throw them because I dont like how the collar looks.

@dollypops15 we have the same experience. 3-4 wears maximum, and poloshirts look as if they have been handed down to the youngest of a family of 10 and worn extensively by each child. They collar is out of shape, they twist, and are baggy. and judging from other schools/kids its the same for most.
Our school has polos in nursery, reception can choose between polo and shirt - I yet have to see a reception child in a poloshirt apart from PE days.

My daughters last school was polos and hand up I'm really good at washing and ironing but they looked awful lol. First couple of wears perfect then I was onto buying more. So glad her new school is shirts. She is 6 now and her primary school do blazers too which are optional but adorable

I found exactly the opposite to the PPs. I found most school shirts were 'easy-iron' = polycotton and get that cheap grey grubby look that woven polycotton gets whereas my youngest (of 3) DC is wearing polo shirts that have been through both older siblings and they are not misshapen, just faded (after being worn for ~6 years).

Personally I would prefer the DCs not to have uniform at all (I was educated without uniform and I think it adds nothing but extra unnecessary expense) but if they have to they should be allowed to be as comfortable as possible and that means polo shirts.

Ah, we only buy cotton shirts. i avoid polycotton wherever I can.
Having gone to school in a non-uniform country, I love school uniform.

@CountFosco out of interest (it’s personal opinion of course), why do your kids think poloshirts are more comfy? mine insists on proper shirts being more comfy as polishirts are too hot for summer, too cold for winter, and rough/scratchy polycotton

My daughter has aspergers so anything pulled over her head causes anxiety. So shirts mean a meltdown free morning

My son starts school in September. His uniform is proper shirts, which I'm over the moon about because I hate polo shirts. And I think proper shirts will look so much smarter, especially with the trousers, jumper and tie.

Polos never look good

Maybe but the kids are far more comfy in them. They don’t need ironing and easy to wash.

I’d prefer senior school to have them as part of their uniform so the kids can move!

It's funny people saying that polo shirts never look good when polo shirts are the standard uniform for ADULTS in 100s of jobs.
There is nothing wrong with polo shirts.

We have the option and personally I like a shirt and tie and only polos on PE days (2 days). I've never had an issue with either. M&S slimfit polos are magnificent (and do skin kind which are even softer)- stay white and collars stay the same all year. Similarly their ultra shirts are a bit pricier but stay white and collars sharp all year. I have 3 boys from age 16-8 so have been doing this a while. I buy once and they last all year so I think saves in the end.

Tesco's polos were terrible - looked 10 years old after the first wash. School Uniform Direct ones are pretty good, and the previous supplier even better but the school stopped using them as parents said they were too expensive (but their polos etc are still sought after in school uniform sales - after 10 years they're still wearable).

It's so hot in schools, my kids would hate long-sleeved shirts.

If you do go for shirts please go for short sleeved. Look much smarter and no cuffs so don't get covered in paint, felt tip, general grubbiness.

@bookmum08 based on my experience polos are uniform where looking smart is not the priority - factory work, facilities, catering, supermarkets etc - physical work, and poloshirts are a tougher material than t-shirts, and its safer (sleeves can’t get caught) and easier to wash hands with short sleeves. smart doesn’t feature (neither does comfort really)