DS needs to tie back hair

[mumwithchums]

DS (10) hair has always been moderately long but recently has come down to his shoulders due to lockdowns (will attach photo tomorrow when account is able to) but due to his hair being so long the school has emailed about his hair having to be tied back when they return to school.He's never had to tie it back before and is mortified about the fact of having to put it in a ponytail even though he is sure he doesn't want it cut.Anyone else had the same issue and if so how did you tie it back?

I would get him to start playing around with different styles now so after 5 weeks he is comfortable with what he prefers and can do it himself if needed in school. Look at pics and watch some videos together and help him try different things

I think he thinks he'll get called a girl by his classmates unfortunately.

Wouldn't long hair alone risk that though? I do know that 10 year olds aren't necessarily logical creatures 😂

My son isn't remotely bothered by people calling him a girl- he just points out that he's a boy.
Even if it hadn't been school rules, I would have made him tie it back because of nits!

He'll need to get used to tying it back at high school unless he wants to set fire to his head when he's round bunsen burners, or get tangled unpleasantly in a machine in D&T. Yes, this will apply to the girls too. Standard safety. Starting now will be good practice for a year or two down the line.

His school's policy needs to be consistently applied to all children, though, not just him.

Regardless of rules he’d need to tie it back for safety and practicality for science and sport etc. As he will need to do at home if cooking etc.

Loathe seeing girls from our local school with their hair out (against rules) all I think about is nits. Makes me itchy just thinking about it.

I'm a bit bewildered by this thread. Why is tying back a boys hair any more difficult or uncomfortable than tying back a girls? Why is it an issue that the school have never dealt with a long haired boy before? I'm sure they've plenty of long haired girls/experience with swimming caps etc.

It all seems a bit baffling. Are long haired boys special in some way?

I can think of many very masculine men e.g. footballers and rock musicians who do or have at some point had ponytails. Show him some photos, it might stop him from worrying that he'll look like a girl.
I am a teacher and a few boys have ponytails at the moment. It is probably a result of lockdowns and not being able to get it cut but them seem to have chosen to keep their longer hair. It must be saving them a fortune too - some had very high-maintenance styles previously!

@Veterinari

I'm a bit bewildered by this thread. Why is tying back a boys hair any more difficult or uncomfortable than tying back a girls? Why is it an issue that the school have never dealt with a long haired boy before? I'm sure they've plenty of long haired girls/experience with swimming caps etc.

It all seems a bit baffling. Are long haired boys special in some way?

Me too, I have a long haired teen boy.

I'm sure they've plenty of long haired girls/experience with swimming caps etc.

Yes. DD has long, really thick hair. She has had no issues shoving it in a swimming hat.

I do hope the school apply their tying up long hair policy to the girls as well!

Technically at DS's school all students have to have hair tied back

However we have found this only seems to be applied to DS. While he has no problem tying his hair back he has asked why they dont challenge girls with longer hair

Google ‘footballer man bun’ 🤤

Surely kids in all schools are meant to tie their up to prevent the spread of nits? And for safety in PE etc.

What has being a boy got to do with it? Seems like the OP and others are making this out to be a bigger issue than it is.

So lovely reading of all these DS's with long hair.
And agree with PP that all long hair should be tied back in all lessons to prevent nits spreading.

My son's hair is almost waist length and thick. He wears it loose, but it really only went past shoulder length when he was 15 or so. We have tried to tie it up - for rock climbing or exams for example- and it's really hard to find a big enough bobble that holds it well. I think it's too much for a man bun.
I can't get a

My middle son (7) started growing his hair out in 2019. We had a few issues with children - mainly girls, ripping the piss out of his ‘girly hair’ at school when they went back in September so I had a word with his teacher and nipped it in the bud. He now goes in with it in a ponytail or plaited and seems happy. This is him pre-morning plait.

Why do schools ask children (girls or boys) to tie their hair back? Genuine question, cant they just put it up when required for gym, science etc? My DC's primary school dont have this rule and when I was at high school (all girls) you just did it when needed also.

Takes 5 seconds to stick a bobble in for PE for anyone over about 7.

@RosesforMama

DS' hair about a year ago, even longer now.

Looks like my DS's, except better kept. My DS always looks like he's just climbed out of a shrub.

@TommyKnocker

Why do schools ask children (girls or boys) to tie their hair back? Genuine question, cant they just put it up when required for gym, science etc? My DC's primary school dont have this rule and when I was at high school (all girls) you just did it when needed also.

Takes 5 seconds to stick a bobble in for PE for anyone over about 7.

It's because of nits at DS school.

At all the secondary schools and most primaries I know of everyone with hair past shoulder length has to have it tied up. Boys and girls equally. They certainly shouldn't have different rules for the sexes.