Help - son walks home in dark and won't hear of "reflective tabbard" - any ideas?

[stillfeel18inside]

I'm sure this must be a problem for most parents of secondary school pupils, but it's only just occured to me: after half-term my DS will be walking home in the dark every day. He got wobbly-chinned when I talked to him about wearing some kind of reflective tabbard/stripe/even an armband/stickers because "nobody else will"! Had a quick look online and I must admit most of the reflective stuff is pretty horrible or babyish - how do YOU make your DCs more visible but still cool?!

Why do you hate your child? Any child in a mummy-coat will be bullied unmercifully and will suffer emotionally for the rest of their days. Please, just go to JJB and buy him some Adiddas for the love of god.

As the weather gets colder your DS will need a coat to go over his blazer anyway, have you looked round the shops? How about something like this?

Both my DC's need coats, we live in Scotland and suprisingly it rains a lot here.

Every year since the hormones hit I have gone shopping with DC's, cried and begged on bended knee for them to choose a new coat. DC's pity me for my foolishness.

New coats are eventually chosen. New coats are never, ever worn, ever, even when there is 2 feet of snow outside and hurricane gales and brass monkeys begin to look fearful.

My DC's seem to have an amazing self-heating system that never allows them to be cold enough to wear a coat. Perhaps NASA should investigate. And I have a cupboard full of them, praying that one day......

I'm still waiting.

take him to a motorbike shop and see if there is anything cool.

He will really get the piss taken out of him if you make him wear a tabard or belt when he is walking....

he's in secondary school.

lordy. leave him be.

Altura night vision "black" jackets are pretty cool.
www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5611&cPath=83 is a camo design reflective sticker set for bags etc.

Do his shoes have any reflectors built in? my trainers do and they are surprisingly effective. As is a reflective key ring or two on a bag.

Ask him if he wants a "cool" slogan or name of a band on it.

Hands up all the adults here who wear reflective tabards!!!! Reading the OP, I'm beginning to think I live in a strange parallel universe.....

The only people who wear tabards in my world are dinner ladies and preschool children on road safety courses/trips and also with reins/long ribbon to hold....

okay everyone, enough of the digs! I think I phrased my original post or title a bit lazily - what I meant was my son wouldn't dream of wearing a tabard (that was an extreme example!) in a million years so what else could I get him just to make him a bit visible when he's walking home in the dark. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions - have sorted it with a rucksack with a reflective bit.

hand up. I will probably wear my HI Viz jacket to the pub tonight ( and hang it on a peg in teh hallway once I'm there). I live on a un lit narrow lane.

You can get reflective stickers and strips: stick a few on bags or shoes.

We nearly ran over two neighbouring 12-yr-olds last night. They were on scooters in the middle of the road in dark clothing and were practically invisible until we were almost on top of them!

I'm going to go and dig out some reflective strips that I have an put some on the boys' school stuff.