What do girls wear under their uniform?

[flamingoland1]

I have DD starting next week and am wondering whether to get something to wear under her dress like cycling shorts. Do kids wear them to cover their knickers?

In my country we used to wear them under our skirts so wanted to ask what people in Uk do. Many thanks.

[LuluJakey1]

I am dreading DD having to wear a uniform next September. She will only wear shorts and wears them with tights under them if it is cold. I started off not making a fuss. She has worn leggings a few times in lock down and dungarees a couple of times but at least 6 days a week it is shorts. There is now way she will wear a skirt or a pinafore.

[purpleme12]

@LuluJakey1 at our school they're not fussed if you wear summer uniform in the winter and vice versa.
And one girl wears the shorts that are designed for boys.
So if it's anything like ours you'll be ok

[LuluJakey1]

I hope so.

[skankingpiglet]

My DDs wear shorts/boxer style knickers, which give good coverage. They say they are very comfortable and are particularly good for DD1 as regular briefs are far too gappy on her skinny legs. The only issue I have with them is having to tuck them up into their gymnastics leotards as they obviously sit lower than the leotard.
No shorts necessary under dresses IMO.

[WinWinnieTheWay]

I put shorts under dresses and skirts as an extra layer when it gets chilly. My eldest has chosen a thin fabric skater skirt for her uniform, I told her to put shorts on underneath as it's definitely not warm enough and will be blown up to her ears in a breeze. She's 16 though.

[CayrolBaaaskin]

Dd wears shorts under her skirt. She is more comfortable that way. I think some do some don’t

[sirfredfredgeorge]

LuluJakey1 Just have her carry on wearing shorts, it's very unlikely that a primary school has a uniform that is that discriminatory that girls must wear dresses, and it's very common in every school I've seen for girls to choose to wear shorts, and lots of kids are plenty warm enough with shorts the whole year round too, so even shorts only throughout the year is common.

DD (9) was just reading the uniform requirements of a high school, and was pretty distraught that shorts were not allowed...

[HelloDulling]

She’ll be tights in a few weeks anyway, OP.

[BrutusMcDogface]

@LuluJakey1

My 10 year old wore grey school shorts with socks or tights all of last year and wanted them this year, too. Sainsbury’s do school shorts designed for girls.

[testingtesting101]

Just pants, they shouldn't have their attention brought to this issue at such a young age, but I also feel that the school uniforms should be unisex and no strict division between trousers for boys and not for girls. However, lots of girls pants are incredibly flimsy and poorly made. My daughter loves these as they are thicker fabric and don't ride up etc.:

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0690054007.html

[Parker231]

@LuluJakey1 - shorts and trousers should be a choice for boys and girls. Trousers are much more practical in winter. No tights to get on and off, warmer on cold days and better for racing around the playground.

[FedUpWithCovid]

Underwear

[Ericaequites]

Knee socks are better and cheaper than tights for most girls. If you skin a knee, the tights are ruined. Knees heal; tights don't.
Shorts or bloomers under a skirt or pinafore look nicer. Showing underpants is not appropriate. Secondary girls need a petticoat; skirts don't hang right without one.

[YayGlitter]

From working in reception please don't make her wear shorts if you haven't spent time getting used to them first/if she wouldn't usually wear shorts under a non school dress, at some point in the first few weeks she's going to be busting for a wee and they are an extra inconvenience when every second counts because shes left it to the last minute, and if she does have an accident cycling shorts are absolutely horrible to take off when they're wet.

[flamingoland1]

"Knees heal; tights don't"

Haha 😂 made me chuckle

[flamingoland1]

Really great to read all the posts, thank you all so much. Nice to hear from teachers as well.

Hope your children are coping ok going back to school

[IceBearRocks]

We bought Cullotes this year from M&S ..... shes going into year 5 and likes trousers so this was a compromise.

In two years she will HAVE to wear a skirt!

[psychopompos]

@Ericaequites

Knee socks are better and cheaper than tights for most girls. If you skin a knee, the tights are ruined. Knees heal; tights don't.
Shorts or bloomers under a skirt or pinafore look nicer. Showing underpants is not appropriate. Secondary girls need a petticoat; skirts don't hang right without one.

A petticoat? Did I just wake up in 1952?

[RedskyAtnight]

In two years she will HAVE to wear a skirt!

Really? I had hoped most schools these days allowed girls the option to wear trousers. (I know some don't allow option of a skirt).

[Parker231]

No one has to wear a skirt to school if they would prefer trousers. Trousers are much more practical.

[modgepodge]

@Parker231

No one has to wear a skirt to school if they would prefer trousers. Trousers are much more practical.

My school the girls have to wear a skirt, well a kilt in fact. There is no trouser option. There are also no boys so I don’t think anyone could claim discrimination as no one is allowed to wear trousers. No idea what would happen if someone declared they were wearing trousers!! I imagine they’d be asked to leave the school!

[fairynick]

When I was in primary school pe shorts under skirts was always a thing after about year four or five. Girls become self conscious around that age So tend to prefer the extra cover and being active In a skirt is so annoying as most women know. I prefer to avoid it all and encourage trousers.

[fairynick]

I went to an all girls catholic grammar school for secondary, trousers weren’t allowed.

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

My DD has always worn boys' trunks, still does in secondary school. She never liked girls' underwear, it didn't feel 'right' apparently. She wears a skirt now, but wore trousers all the way through primary so I never thought about the skirt issue.

[Parker231]

@modgepodge - schools no longer have the powers to dictate on skirt v trousers. If your DD wants to wear trousers she can. Same case if a boy can wear a skirt. I would challenge them on outdated policies - doesn’t help treat children about equality.