5 year old banned from church playgroup because he likes to wear princess dresses.

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E74C00000578-890_634x437.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E57700000578-972_634x958.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E66300000578-465_306x423.jpg




Romeo Clarke, from Rugby, Warwickshire, has three older sisters
Youngster owns 100 dresses and eight pairs of heeled shoes
Builder dad Winston, 42: 'I don't care. He can be whatever he wants to be'


The youngster likes to wear heels and something in his favourite colour, pink - such as socks or a hair clip, every single day. Romeo also likes having his hair straightened, his nails painted and playing with Barbie dolls.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2623174/The-five-
__________________________________________________ _____________

I think the mum needs to have a look at herself here

[Daniel.]

Looks like a young Kemal lmao

but seriously - how pathetic

[Novo]

get that poor kid a power rangers or a teenage ninja mutant turtles costume

[jackc1806]

Looks like a young Kemal lmao

but seriously - how pathetic

It actually is Kemal

[Ninastar]

Pathetic, but what's even more pathetic is that people will now use this as another 'reason' to hate on religion. People assume all religion is the same.

[Cal.]

It is pathetic, like his parents say, if it makes him happy, so be it.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It is pathetic, like his parents say, if it makes him happy, so be it.

The mother should be adult enough to realise he is not a girl and steer him to better clothes choices. The dad is not there. He will be a laughing stock when he goes to school. :nono:

Will she give him mars bars for breakfast and let him stay up to watch BB as it makes him happy?

[lily.]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

[Jessica.]

I don't see what the big deal is, would the church have the same problem if it was a girl wearing Spiderman clothes? :shrug:

[Crimson Dynamo]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

Good post L

[Cherie]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E74C00000578-890_634x437.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E57700000578-972_634x958.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/08/article-2623174-1DA9E66300000578-465_306x423.jpg




Romeo Clarke, from Rugby, Warwickshire, has three older sisters
Youngster owns 100 dresses and eight pairs of heeled shoes
Builder dad Winston, 42: 'I don't care. He can be whatever he wants to be'


The youngster likes to wear heels and something in his favourite colour, pink - such as socks or a hair clip, every single day. Romeo also likes having his hair straightened, his nails painted and playing with Barbie dolls.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2623174/The-five-
__________________________________________________ _____________

I think the mum needs to have a look at herself here

:umm2: spoiled brat

[Marsh.]

Attention seeking twats.

[Crimson Dynamo]

imagine letting the DM take photos?

[lily.]

He's a beautiful wee boy.. It's clear he's growing up in a house of life-size barbies.. you only have to look at the mum. She has bleached hair, lip fillers and false nails/tan. The sisters are possibly the same.. and the article states that she's a 'single-mum'.. so there is no male influence in the house at all.

The kid is only copying what he sees at home, which is fine. But he needs to be exposed to other influences too. My son benefited from nursery school because prior to that he'd only spent time with his sister and her friends [and his mum/dad of course]. It's good for kids to spend time with kids their own age/gender too.

[Lee.]

I'm sorry, but there's no way I'd let my boy go out dressed as a girl.. The mother is leaving him open to all sorts of ridicule and bullying.

[lily.]

Exactly. What's okay to do at home isn't okay to do out in public. Kids run around the house with all sorts of weird outfits on.. but sort it out before you leave the house..

[Vanessa]

Looks like a young Kemal lmao

but seriously - how pathetic

:joker:

[Josy]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

Best post ever.

I pretty much say the same thing in all of these sort of threads..he's a child, not old enough to make massive life changing decisions.

[RichardG]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

I'm sorry, but there's no way I'd let my boy go out dressed as a girl.. The mother is leaving him open to all sorts of ridicule and bullying.

.

[Crimson Dynamo]

not that i like saying it but well done the church in this case

[Jack_]

Pathetic but these stories need to stop being posted on here cause we end up going down the same predictable, overtired road every time

[Crimson Dynamo]

Pathetic but these stories need to stop being posted on here cause we end up going down the same predictable, overtired road every time

what do you mean Jack?

[Tom4784]

The club is using the kids as an excuse, I doubt many five year olds would care about what the boy wears less be distressed or confused by it.

[Marsh.]

Pathetic but these stories need to stop being posted on here cause we end up going down the same predictable, overtired road every time

Because people express opinions that differ to yours?

[Nedusa]

Let the boy wear what he wants when he is home ( although I think over a 100 dresses is excessive) but at school he should be dressed as a boy.

Cannot understand why the mother would think a boy of this age has the maturity to make an informed decision as to what to wear.

She is leaving her son open to serious ridicule by allowing him to dress like this in public .

This story should really be about the mothers issues not the little boy's.

[Jack_]

Because people express opinions that differ to yours?

No, because we end up having exactly the same argument every single time and it doesn't ever go anywhere, people then start baiting and it just causes animosity

On a separate note though I really refute this idea that people should shy away from doing 'different' things so as to avoid 'bullying', do people not see how counterproductive and damaging that notion actually is? That just perpetuates the problem because it doesn't bring the issues to the fore and normalise them. The more something is done the more people become used to it and it is no longer seen as 'abnormal', therefore it's not really something that can be used by bullies. The longer people decide to prevent themselves or others from doing things they think might be used against them, the more bullies win and that solves nothing

If everyone who thought like that decided to wise up and go ahead with what they were shying away from in the first place then such issues would be dealt with a lot quicker

[Josy]

I honestly don't even think this story has anything to do with gender stereotyping, discrimination etc the child is obviously dressing up like that to imitate what his sisters do at home, it's not as if it's every day proper clothing..

Regardless of what this boy wants to wear he still has to learn that there are rules in some places and his mother, instead of running to the papers should be sitting him down and explaining to him that a kids club is maybe not the right setting to be wearing dress up clothes. He wouldn't turn up at the school he attends wearing this stuff so why should the kids club be any different? and if the child really does want to wear dresses why not proper clothing?

As for the kids club well the spokesperson has said they have been asked to wear clothing of the gender stated on his registration form, which states male.

I don't see a problem with them enforcing that.

[Vicky.]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

:thumbs:

[Jack_]

I honestly don't even think this story has anything to do with gender stereotyping, discrimination etc the child is obviously dressing up like that to imitate what his sisters do at home, it's not as if it's every day proper clothing..

Regardless of what this boy wants to wear he still has to learn that there are rules in some places and his mother, instead of running to the papers should be sitting him down and explaining to him that a kids club is maybe not the right setting to be wearing dress up clothes. He wouldn't turn up at the school he attends wearing this stuff so why should the kids club be any different? and if the child really does want to wear dresses why not proper clothing?

As for the kids club well the spokesperson has said they have been asked to wear clothing of the gender stated on his registration form, which states male.

I don't see a problem with them enforcing that.

I don't agree with dress codes anytime, anywhere though so I'm not even going to be able to agree with that. But then I'm a liberal so :p

[Crimson Dynamo]

Let the boy wear what he wants when he is home ( although I think over a 100 dresses is excessive) but at school he should be dressed as a boy.

Cannot understand why the mother would think a boy of this age has the maturity to make an informed decision as to what to wear.

She is leaving her son open to serious ridicule by allowing him to dress like this in public .

This story should really be about the mothers issues not the little boy's.

Yes its a reflection on the mum

[Josy]

I don't agree with dress codes anytime, anywhere though so I'm not even going to be able to agree with that. But then I'm a liberal so :p

So you think people should be able to wear dress up clothes when ever and where ever?

Just out of curiosity then, would you be fine with going to your doctors and he or she was sitting wearing a pink tutu and ballet slippers?

[Jack_]

So you think people should be able to wear dress up clothes when ever and where ever?

Just out of curiosity then, would you be fine with going to your doctors and he or she was sitting wearing a pink tutu and ballet slippers?

Yes, clothes are clothes, artificial creations and have no bearing whatsoever on a person. I literally couldn't care any less about what people wear

And absolutely, I'm there to get medical treatment and advice not admire her clothes/dress sense :shrug: I genuinely don't get why people care, people can still do jobs competently or act like normal human beings wearing whatever clothes they want

[Livia]

I have three little nieces. Between them they have a mass of princess dresses... but nowhere near 100. Furthermore, none of them ever wear (or wore) dressing up clothes for school or for nursery because it would be inappropriate and unpractical. It's an attention-seeking exercise and it's worked.

[Josy]

Yes, clothes are clothes, artificial creations and have no bearing whatsoever on a person. I literally couldn't care any less about what people wear

And absolutely, I'm there to get medical treatment and advice not admire her clothes/dress sense :shrug: I genuinely don't get why people care, people can still do jobs competently or act like normal human beings wearing whatever clothes they want

I disagree Jack, a dress up costume is not normal clothing.

Dress up clothing is not suitable day to day in a professional setting either.

[Marsh.]

No, because we end up having exactly the same argument every single time and it doesn't ever go anywhere, people then start baiting and it just causes animosity

There is no arguments, people are discussing.

Yes, clothes are clothes, artificial creations and have no bearing whatsoever on a person. I literally couldn't care any less about what people wear

You could take your GP seriously if he sat there dressed as Snow White?

:joker:

[Cherie]

Yes, clothes are clothes, artificial creations and have no bearing whatsoever on a person. I literally couldn't care any less about what people wear

And absolutely, I'm there to get medical treatment and advice not admire her clothes/dress sense :shrug: I genuinely don't get why people care, people can still do jobs competently or act like normal human beings wearing whatever clothes they want


As a matter of interest what would you wear to an important job interview?

[Crimson Dynamo]

sees Nigel Farage arrive at QT dressed as a black and white minstrel and Jack saying

"all is well, first question please"

[Cherie]

sees Nigel Farage arrive at QT dressed as a black and white minstrel and Jack saying

"all is well, first question please"

:laugh:

[Benjamin]

In my opinion, his parents need to dress him like a boy when he is out the house. If he was 15 and wanted to dress as a girl, then that would be fair enough, but he is only a child playing dress-up. This has nothing to do with gender identity, and parents who bring this sort of BS to the media are attention-*****s.

Exactly but no doubt all this gender equality moaners will harp on about this for weeks on end.


No offence btw jack, I just get so bored of seeing crap like this dominate the media. If this kid was 15 fine, but he is a young kid and he will get bullied and teased for crap like this, not fair on the kid.

[armand.kay]

If the boy wants to dress like a princess to the playground let him jheez he's at a playground he is suppose to have fun. I mean I see allot of girls in the playground with dress up cloths and I use to go to the playground in my power ranger gear :shrug:
I mean it's kind of weird but I ain't complaining :umm2:

[Shaun]

If the boy wants to dress like a princess to the playground let him jheez he's at a playground he is suppose to have fun. I mean I see allot of girls in the playground with dress up cloths and I use to go to the playground in my power ranger :shrug:
I mean it's kind of weird but I ain't complaining :umm2:

Agree with this...

It's a five year old ffs... if he wants to play dress up, fine, it's not like he's going to job interviews in it :facepalm:

and the "I wouldn't let my son do it because he'd get bullied" point is pretty cowardly but understandable... people really need to stop judging what others wear though. (Unless they're tramps like Sallie Axl in which case they deserve it :hmph:)

[Crimson Dynamo]

Agree with this...

It's a five year old ffs... if he wants to play dress up, fine, it's not like he's going to job interviews in it :facepalm:

and the "I wouldn't let my son do it because he'd get bullied" point is pretty cowardly but understandable... people really need to stop judging what others wear though. (Unless they're tramps like Sallie Axl in which case they deserve it :hmph:)


have a kid and report back:nono:

[Marsh.]

If Sallie Axl was my daughter she'd be locked in the basement. :umm2:

[Jessica.]

That little boy is so adorable though, I love his hair, his mother on the other hand, I don't understand why she chose the dailymail to complain to of all places. I also think the comments about the amount of dresses he has are quite silly, I am sure he probably inherited most of the dresses from his sisters.

[Josy]

If the boy wants to dress like a princess to the playground let him jheez he's at a playground he is suppose to have fun. I mean I see allot of girls in the playground with dress up cloths and I use to go to the playground in my power ranger gear :shrug:
I mean it's kind of weird but I ain't complaining :umm2:

Agree with this...

It's a five year old ffs... if he wants to play dress up, fine, it's not like he's going to job interviews in it :facepalm:

and the "I wouldn't let my son do it because he'd get bullied" point is pretty cowardly but understandable... people really need to stop judging what others wear though. (Unless they're tramps like Sallie Axl in which case they deserve it :hmph:)

He wasn't in a playground though it was a playgroup..

The kids here have to wear uniforms to playgroup...

[Jessica.]

He goes to school and wears a uniform like all of the other kids, none of the other kids wear uniforms to the church group it seems, they can wear whatever they want, except if a little boy wants to wear a dress because unfortunately it's a crime for someone in possession of a y chromosome to wear a dress.

[Marsh.]

It's not simply a dress though, it's a "dressing up" dress.

[Jessica.]

It's not simply a dress though, it's a "dressing up" dress.

What's the difference?

[InOne]

I noticed they cheekily slipped in: The stay-at-home single mother said: 'I was so cross when I was told he couldn’t wear dresses I was speechless - all I could ask was, why?'

Which of course will lead people to ask where all these dresses come from. Typical DM trash story :bored:

[Jessica.]

I noticed they cheekily slipped in: The stay-at-home single mother said: 'I was so cross when I was told he couldn’t wear dresses I was speechless - all I could ask was, why?'

Which of course will lead people to ask where all these dresses come from. Typical DM trash story :bored:

I noticed that too but didn't mention it for obvious reasons. :inamood:

[Marsh.]

What's the difference?

:suspect: You don't know the difference between a girl wearing a regular dress or a school uniform dress and dressing up as cinderella?

Just as there's a difference between someone wearing shorts and dressing up as spongebob.

[Jessica.]

:suspect: You don't know the difference between a girl wearing a regular dress or a school uniform dress and dressing up as cinderella?

:umm2: I'm not talking about school uniform, I don't see a difference between a 5 year old child wearing a regular dress and a princess dress. Could you elaborate?

[Marsh.]

:umm2: I'm not talking about school uniform, I don't see a difference between a 5 year old child wearing a regular dress and a princess dress. Could you elaborate?

I said school uniform OR "regular". You don't know the difference between a regular dress and a disney princess dress?

[Marsh.]

http://www.dhresource.com/albu_409431503_00-1.0x0/2013-girl-s-pageant-dresses-cute-princess.jpg

Would you call this regular clothing?

[Jessica.]

That child is wearing make-up and the dress would obstruct her ability to walk safely I think, it seems to be a bit too long.

[Marsh.]

That child is wearing make-up and the dress would obstruct her ability to walk safely I think, it seems to be a bit too long.

I'll ignore that as it's not on-topic.
So you see the difference between regular clothing and "dressing up" clothes? Yes?

[lily.]

The mum says he wears high heels. Also impractical..

This comment is bang on:
I have three little nieces. Between them they have a mass of princess dresses... but nowhere near 100. Furthermore, none of them ever wear (or wore) dressing up clothes for school or for nursery because it would be inappropriate and unpractical. It's an attention-seeking exercise and it's worked.

[Shaun]

can we spoiler the crazy size image pls marsh :nono:

[Shaun]

He wasn't in a playground though it was a playgroup..

The kids here have to wear uniforms to playgroup...

yes but you live in Scotland and that's just the land of primitive behaviour :hmph:

[Marsh.]

can we spoiler the crazy size image pls marsh :nono:

Oops.

[Vicky.]

I used to have princess dresses and such, I also used to wear my grandmas skirts and blouses when around the house sometimes..I even had a dalmation outfit that I was quite partial to after watching the film :laugh: But my parents would never have even thought to send me out somewhere looking like that, especially school/playgroup. There is a time and a place IMO.

I have an inkling if he was turning up in a full spiderman suit, or dressed like fireman sam or something it would have been a problem too. Nothing to do with his gender.

The mother is just attention seeking. Things like this really do no good for REAL gender identity cases tbh...

[reece(:]

This article is being misconstrued to be about gender identity when it's only to do with choice of clothes ... kids always wear dress up so I don't see why that's being disputed against...

[lily.]

.....The mother is just attention seeking. Things like this really do no good for REAL gender identity cases tbh...

This 100%

I feel like these stories always bring about negative gender identity discussions.

[Toy Soldier]

The specifics of what he's wearing are irrelevant... all that matters is whether or not they otherwise allow dress-up. If dress up is allowed (e.g. spiderman costumes, doctors / nurse costumes, girls wearing princess / fairy costumes) then there should be no problem with him dressing as a princess. He's just a child. It doesn't mean anything. When I was young, my parents had friends whose son liked to dress up as a fairy. Constantly. I remember finding it weird but... he loved it :/. 20+ years later, he's a perfectly normal (and straight, I should mention, not that it should matter) guy.

My daughter plays "Frozen" with the little boy from next door who is 6, and he usually plays the role of "Anna".

There's nothing wrong with cross-gender role play... it doesn't mean anything and it won't "cause" any confusion.

So like I said, it SHOULD just be an issue of general dress code. If fancy dress (in general) is disallowed, then obviously he shouldn't be dressed as a princess. If it is allowed, then there shouldn't be a problem. There's no right or wrong answer there as it's down to the individual group. Josy mentioned kids having to wear uniform to playgroup... I also live in Scotland, and my daughter's pre-school, which is part of the actual primary school not even an external organisation, has a completely open dress code. 90% of the time my daughter just wears her day-to-day clothes but she has in the past gone in as tinkerbell, a doctor, a nurse, a pirate and a cat (including whiskers!).

So there's clearly a lot of diversity between different groups as to acceptable dress. Can't really pass judgement on this story either way unless we know what ther reaction would have been to him arriving in "boy" fancy dress, like a fireman or pirate. If it would have been the same then the mum is clearly kicking up a fuss over nothing and making it into something it's not. If it would have been fine then the playgroup has outdated ideas about what's "OK for boys and OK for girls".

[Ammi]

The specifics of what he's wearing are irrelevant... all that matters is whether or not they otherwise allow dress-up. If dress up is allowed (e.g. spiderman costumes, doctors / nurse costumes, girls wearing princess / fairy costumes) then there should be no problem with him dressing as a princess. He's just a child. It doesn't mean anything. When I was young, my parents had friends whose son liked to dress up as a fairy. Constantly. I remember finding it weird but... he loved it :/. 20+ years later, he's a perfectly normal (and straight, I should mention, not that it should matter) guy.

My daughter plays "Frozen" with the little boy from next door who is 6, and he usually plays the role of "Anna".

There's nothing wrong with cross-gender role play... it doesn't mean anything and it won't "cause" any confusion.

So like I said, it SHOULD just be an issue of general dress code. If fancy dress (in general) is disallowed, then obviously he shouldn't be dressed as a princess. If it is allowed, then there shouldn't be a problem. There's no right or wrong answer there as it's down to the individual group. Josy mentioned kids having to wear uniform to playgroup... I also live in Scotland, and my daughter's pre-school, which is part of the actual primary school not even an external organisation, has a completely open dress code. 90% of the time my daughter just wears her day-to-day clothes but she has in the past gone in as tinkerbell, a doctor, a nurse, a pirate and a cat (including whiskers!).

So there's clearly a lot of diversity between different groups as to acceptable dress. Can't really pass judgement on this story either way unless we know what ther reaction would have been to him arriving in "boy" fancy dress, like a fireman or pirate. If it would have been the same then the mum is clearly kicking up a fuss over nothing and making it into something it's not. If it would have been fine then the playgroup has outdated ideas about what's "OK for boys and OK for girls".

..I think I probably more or less agree with this..at our pre-school which is similar to yours in that it's attached to the school and also now has a dress policy, it wouldn't be allowed for that reason/because what he wears doesn't 'conform'...but it didn't always have a dress policy and I remember that there was a young child who wouldn't wear anything except a Spiderman outfit..he even apparently wore it to sleep in as well, it was his 'comfort blanket' in a way but he did also have emotional issues and so it was allowed..it was all explained by his mum to the playschool but if it hadn't been, would it still have been allowed..?..I honestly don't know tbh...

..but you have made me start thinking though or this thread/story in general has...when children do go to proper school where there are mostly uniform policies...for the ones I personally know in my area..?..the girl's codes are worded roughly...'grey/black skirt/dress/trousers/shorts..'..etc..whereas the boys are...'grey/black trousers, shorts..'....hmmmm, is that 'equality'..?....sorry, that's probably a bit off topic just quite interesting I think....

[Kizzy]

I don't think it's the mother attention seeking she was right to raise awareness, if we can have a bloke in a frock win eurovision then this lad can be a princess if he wants...

[Ammi]

..I should have also said that with this particular story/case, I do think there seems to be an 'attention' aspect..or at least I personally don't think the mother has chosen the right way to bring any awareness..although I do feel that children of that age, other children at the playschool probably wouldn't think for more than a few minutes about what a child wore, it's not just the children in these cases, in fact in my experiences, it's mostly the parents and what they say and how they judge and their prejudice etc and that is inevitably passed down to the child so if it was my child, I would indeed worry about bullying/name calling etc and wouldn't subject my child of that age to that..and it is at that age a parent's decision what a child wears...I also think that however she handled the situation with the playschool, she has also now made this a 'national' thing and her son's picture is everywhere on the internet for people to judge and people will judge...I think she could have 'raised awareness' if indeed that's what she wanted to do with much more thought to her son...

[Kizzy]

How else is she to raise awareness without media attention? If kids saw it in nursery and it was more the 'norm' then bullying wouldn't happen when they did see it though I would've thought.

[Ammi]

..I don't agree with the 'bullying wouldn't happen' though because in my experience the bullying is more often because of parent/grown up judgements which their children 'inherit'...

[Kizzy]

Like being berated by nursery staff for instance, If they were not to force these negative stereotypes onto children then this cycle of abuse wouldn't continue would it?

[Ammi]

..it isn't a negative stereotype of 'dressing up clothes' aren't allowed at the playschool, which may be the case and the staff talking to the parent privately doesn't mean any berating of the child...anyway, as I don't know anything other than the mother's story, there really isn't anything else to add to what I've already said is my opinion generally....

[Livia]

I'm going to work tomorrow dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. It's my right as a woman. Let's see if my boss agrees.

[Ammi]

I'm going to work tomorrow dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. It's my right as a woman. Let's see if my boss agrees.

..to heck with your boss, I want pics..:amazed:..

[Kizzy]

They for whatever reason refused this child to wear what he wanted, there is no evidence that there was any bullying occurring therefore it's natural to question their motives.

[Ammi]

..I don't think 5 year olds in general wear what they want or act how they want/eat what they want etc without parental guidance...

[Kizzy]

His mother was fine with his dress, but that's not really the issue is it?
It was simply the outmoded view of the playgroup staff as far as I can see.

[Josy]

They for whatever reason refused this child to wear what he wanted, there is no evidence that there was any bullying occurring therefore it's natural to question their motives.

There's rules that need to be followed.

What happens then if they allow this one boy to wear dress up clothes then 3 kids turn up the next day wearing them then 5 the next and so on...

[Ammi]

..we don't 'see' though, we have 'one side' from a biased mother, which can be slanted by her and also by the newspapers as well and quite often are, which is why really there isn't much else to say on it...in general though, not in this thing in particular, I don't believe a 4yr old should be able to do what they want....

[Nedusa]

There's rules that need to be followed.

What happens then if they allow this one boy to wear dress up clothes then 3 kids turn up the next day wearing them then 5 the next and so on...


I agree, in the child's home he can wear whatever he is allowed to wear but in the playgroup he is a boy and should wear boys clothes.

No debate, no argument just dress your son in the appropriate attire and move on.

Otherwise it becomes a ludricous free for all where there are no rules and the education of these toddlers takes second stage to whatever craze or notion is allowed by the parents.

[Kizzy]

There's rules that need to be followed.

What happens then if they allow this one boy to wear dress up clothes then 3 kids turn up the next day wearing them then 5 the next and so on...

There are not rules.. it was a church playgroup not school.

So what if they do?... Not that they would of course children have different interests don't they? I just find it ridiculous that there was so much support (rightly) for the cross dressing singer but condemnation for a little boy playing dressup at an afterschool club :conf:

[Josy]

There are not rules.. it was a church playgroup not school.

So what if they do?... Not that they would of course children have different interests don't they? I just find it ridiculous that there was so much support (rightly) for the cross dressing singer but condemnation for a little boy playing dressup at an afterschool club :conf:

Completely different scenarios altogether.

And playgroups do have rules. like mentioned earlier in the thread a lot of them have a dress code.

He is pictured in the paper wearing a school uniform and looks perfectly ok, why then expect the playgroup to bend over backwards to give him what he wants but abide by the school rules?

[Ammi]

..but for a 4yr old child it's nothing to do with sexuality or expressing themselves though..this is just a 'dress up' thing and whether he should or shouldn't be allowed to do that and what the 'policies' are...you also can't compare what adults choose and what 4yr old children choose...anyway for me, it's less to do with what he was wearing but how the mother chose to deal with the situation....

[Kizzy]

..we don't 'see' though, we have 'one side' from a biased mother, which can be slanted by her and also by the newspapers as well and quite often are, which is why really there isn't much else to say on it...in general though, not in this thing in particular, I don't believe a 4yr old should be able to do what they want....

I see that, you don't have 'one side' you have the report including the opinion of the playgroup.
We will have to agree to disagree ammi, I believe that tots should be allowed to play make believe if they like it's part of being a child and there's plenty of time to adjust, well that's my opinion anyway.

[Kizzy]

Completely different scenarios altogether.

And playgroups do have rules. like mentioned earlier in the thread a lot of them have a dress code.

He is pictured in the paper wearing a school uniform and looks perfectly ok, why then expect the playgroup to bend over backwards to give him what he wants but abide by the school rules?

Not as I see it josy, it's just my opinion you understand.

[Ammi]

..oh I totally agree with the 'make believe' bit..children can make believe either at home/playschool/friend's houses etc whatever they're wearing, it's all imagination...it's a question on his clothing and whether it was something the playschool allowed or not because 'dress up clothing' isn't what is generally worn for playschool on a regular basis...


..EDIT:..when I say that I don't believe that 4y olds should be allowed to do what they want, I don't mean in terms of stifling their imagination or play but in terms of structure in their lives and having to adhere to structured situations..we all have to, to some extent...

[Josy]

Not as I see it josy, it's just my opinion you understand.

Of course it is but that's what we do in here isn't it, post our opinions.

And I agree that children should be allowed to play make believe but there's a time and a place for that and the playgroup probably has allocated times for that tbh.

I think it's a case of the little boy being spoiled and the mother has caused a fuss for attention.

[Kizzy]

I think there is plenty of time for rules and regulations, school is school and of course rules apply there. I agree the mother highlighted the repression of expression at this school,it's the seeds of bigotry and suppression imo.
Take him somewhere he can have fun and be himself, next week he may want to be a superhero, or a chef or a table... who cares?

[Nedusa]

I think there is plenty of time for rules and regulations, school is school and of course rules apply there. I agree the mother highlighted the repression of expression at this school,it's the seeds of bigotry and suppression imo.
Take him somewhere he can have fun and be himself, next week he may want to be a superhero, or a chef or a table... who cares?

I agree with the sentiment in your post..but over 100 dresses Don't you think that is going over the top a bit for 4 year old boy.

Most women don't have 100 dresses.

[Kizzy]

Some may be his sisters I don't know?.. he's a lucky boy thats all I can say. I well jell of that ariel outfit.