Uniform for girls who live in leggings

[oneplustwoplustwoplusone]

My nearly 4yo starts school in Sept. She is quite fussy about clothes, only really wearing leggings or cycling shorts and a T-shirt.

For those with less ‘girly’ girls what did you go for with uniform. I’ve not no chance in getting her in a dress/skirt/pinafore now. Jersey trousers should be OK but what if it is still warm in Sept?

Did you find that they changed their view on uniform over the first term? Don’t want to buy loads of other girls in her class wearing dresses etc changes her mind….

Dress with cycling shorts underneath?

Why are girls made to wear cycle shorts under dresses? In today's heat that plastic material must be so hot and sweaty . Why can't girls just wear dresses as we did when I was a child?

Thanks for the helpful comments - didn’t expect such a debate!

It’s not something I’m losing sleep over 😂 Just trying to get myself a bit organised before September

Well my child WANTS to wear some little shorts under her dresses so that when she does cartwheels or some such like her knickers aren't showing

I presume other girls have similar reasons

I never have much success trying to make mine do anything.
Mine prefers to wear shorts under hers (sometimes, some days she chooses not to) because then she doesn't flash her pants when she's upside down on bars and so she doesn't get bark in her pants when she's grubbing around on the floor. It's also horrible having your legs stick to plastic chairs, as I recall from my school uniform days.

Actually I always wore shorts underneath my dress and still do as its more comfortable for me.

Most cycling shorts are made from soft jersey material rather than the Lycra-type stuff that I think you are thinking of. Much more comfortable!

Because we're more aware of safeguarding these days? Children are taught the pants rule from very young (that our pants, and what's underneath them, are private) and are therefore understandably, and thankfully, more aware from a young age that it's not appropriate to flash your knickers.

Are they allowed leggings? My DDs school allows plain black ones, seems the easiest option. Then switch to thicker jersey trousers or joggers when it’s colder. Also check if they are allowed to wear cycling shorts when it’s warm, she could do that in early September if it’s warm.

My daughter presented as fussy as well at that age. Now that she’s 12 we know she is autistic, it was just one of the most obvious challenges when she was younger. Of course children can be sensory challenged on its own as well but just in case!

We got an agreement she could wear thick leggings - could barely tell the difference between them and the pull on trousers but she couldn’t and can’t stand any fabric flapping around her lower legs. Leggings every single day for years now. Luckily post covid they relaxed the uniform and my son can wear joggers and the polo. And the high school has a uniform of black leggings and t shirts. Super comfortable and practical with the added benefit they all look like mimes lol.

Skorts, shorts with tights and jump suits (summer gingham ones which both my children’s schools wear until October and from April).

My little girl was like this. Asda do stretchy pull on trousers that are similar to leggings in the school uniform range but a bit smarter.

I always laugh hard at comments like this. In my area, a school with no uniform doesn't exist, so many around the UK can't really "choose".

My son started reception last year, he has sensory issues regarding clothes so has lived in leggings and t-shirts too.
When we had a meet and greet with the teacher before he started I explained that he may not be in ‘proper’ school trousers but that he would be in charcoal grey leggings, along with the school polo shirt and jumper. She laughed and said that it was no problem at all and that I needn’t worry about it because she’d rather he was happy to go, comfortable to be there rather then upset and stressed out.
Come September he went in grey jersy leggings and the rest of the uniform and it wasn’t even noticeable… he was in the correct colours and just looked like the boys who were wearing ‘skinny fit’ school trousers.
As soon as the weather started to get warmer I brought some school shorts washed them several times with lots of fabric softener before I gave them to him as an option. He happily declared his best friend wears shorts and he put them on and has been in school shorts ever since.
It will be interesting as the weather cools weather he opts to go back into leggings, stay in shorts or try a pair of school trousers I picked up when we originally tried them.
Try to not to worry, they are so small but grow up so quickly, worse case scenario she goes in leggings of the correct colour but once settled and she sees what others are wearing she’ll be tempted to try new things.
There is no point adding anxiety to a 4 year old about to start school by forcing them to wear something that makes them feel awful, try out a few options and see what she prefers.

My daughter wears black leggings or cycling shorts, which still looks smart when coupled with the school shirt & shoes.

This. Just be firm and find the comfiest version of these.

@Ddakji What choice? What no uniform school? I’ve seen them in the USA. All expensive trainers and flash gear every day. Angst about what to wear. Give me a uniform every time. It is cheaper and far less trouble.

DD went to a non-uniform state primary in London (one of several near us). Kids worse hoodies and T-shirts with jeans, leggings or shorts. Trainers and sandals. No designer labels. No angst. No fuss or bother or trouble.

You do know that there’s zero evidence that uniform in primaries improves anything for the children, yes? And that plenty of children round the world manage without it, many in counties with better education than the UK.

So that they can play and run and jump and cartwheel without kids being mean about being able to see their knickers!

No uniform works well in areas with lower inequality. Uniform is a great leveller in more mixed affluence areas.

Edited to make my comment make sense 😂

@Ddakji We don’t all live in London. Just because yours don’t notice labels, others most certainly do. Uniform mostly stops that. No choice of clothes every day makes life easy. Plus my DDs didn’t really want to wear what you describe, they actually liked their uniforms. They liked “belonging” to the school. (At prep from y3, DD had a cloak. Great bit of kit).

A cloak 😆
When does she wear the cloak!

I'm a bit surprised that leggings aren't considered 'girly'. Boys aren't usually wearing clingy leggings aged 4.

Well no leggings aren't an item that make you think of boys clothes... But that doesn't make them 'girly' though does it.
To me, girly clothes would be pretty frilly dresses or gingham skirts for example, dresses with bows on, things like that.

My dd has always worn black leggings or school shorts to school. You can get nice shorts from asda and sainsburys if she isn't allowed cycle shorts. DD hates dresses and skirts and contrary to a lot of posters here, I have never forced her to wear them. She is almost 11 and has survived without ever needing a dress for school..