Primary School PE Changng Room Arrangements

Mandles

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

Simple really isnt it?
Make sure your DD is wearing a vest.

A vest? At that age she would get really made fun of for wearing a vest.:o

aliasojo

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

Simple really isnt it?
Make sure your DD is wearing a vest.

Unfortunately wearing a vest wont help the girl when changing if she has discovered she has 'leaked'.

My daughter had erratic periods when she first started, some were light, some were ridiculousy heavy and would start suddenly. If she had been made to change in front of boys during that time, her self confidence (that she had little of to start with) would have taken such a knock that she just wouldn't have coped well thereafter.

Not all girls are as bad, granted, but I'm thankful my daughter's teachers were enlightened and understanding in this situation and allowed all girls to change in the toilets from primary 5 upwards.

*Louise*

Does the school have changing rooms? I would have thought they were standard if they have a gym hall.

At my DS's school primary 1-3 (age 5-7) get changed in the classroom but from primary 4 they use the changing rooms.

I have never actually thought to ask why the little ones don't use the changing rooms tbh,:o perhaps in case some of them need extra help.


I would have words with the class teacher, you don't have to say the details why you are aksing, it could just be a general enquiry about 'are they not all getting a bit old to change together?'

gjs6385

Would it not be feasible for the boys to get changing in the classroom and the girls in the changing rooms or vice-versa?

Maybe mention this to the teacher.

fluffnutter

We've come a long way from doing PE in our knickers. Imagine doing that now

duchy

Yikes -Once the bodies start changing it really isn't appropriate at all.
In the dark ages when I was at primary school we had seperate cloakrooms for boys and girls and changed there (Victorian building) in my son's primary the boys changed in a cloakroom area and the girls in the classroom (this was a 60s build building so more open plan).

If the teachers aren't interested I'd be taking this to the governers-May also be worth checking if the LEA have a policy on it.

flea72

in year 6, our school has a screen that they wheel into class so the sexes are separated

if your DD has started her periods, then i take it the school have been informed, seeing as sanitary bins would have to be provided? if so, why would it be such a big deal to now ask for segregated changing facilities?

there are also ways around everything. if DD is prone to leaking, then do like most adults do. wear clothes that you can get changed into without showing your knickers and also underwear that is dark in colour. - if she wears a skirt, she can put PE shorts on before taking skirt off, and then do it in reverse when getting dressed - noone would have any idea if you were wearing a pad, leaked, etc.

i agree girls that age wont wear vests, but crop tops give some modesty. i find most girls nowadays are more worried about nipples showing through fabric, rather than their boobs being on display, so patterned crop-tops are good at camouflage

F

Nicki

Mupette wrote: »

It's now we have issues, which was never there when we were all kids, our little girls (i don't have one) are maturing earlier, getting boobs, starting their periods etc, back in the 80's very rare for a girl to start so soon. (i think)

But the primary schools have not moved with the changing times. Something does need to be considered, when ds was in primary school (he is practically 17) some of his female classmates had boobs bless em.

I'm not sure you are right about this though. I was at primary school in the 1970's and was at the same stage as OP's daughter by the time I left, as were 2 or 3 other girls I suspect. And although we did not have anything as luxurious as changing rooms, the boys did change in a separate area to the girls at that age.

10 or 11 is, and always has been, a perfectly normal age for puberty to start and AFAIK a girl who starts menstruating at this age wouldn't be diagnosed with precocious puberty because even though periods come late in puberty, starting at this age is still seen as within normal parameters.

balletshoes

*Louise* wrote: »

Does the school have changing rooms? I would have thought they were standard if they have a gym hall.

At my DS's school primary 1-3 (age 5-7) get changed in the classroom but from primary 4 they use the changing rooms.

I have never actually thought to ask why the little ones don't use the changing rooms tbh,:o perhaps in case some of them need extra help.


I would have words with the class teacher, you don't have to say the details why you are aksing, it could just be a general enquiry about 'are they not all getting a bit old to change together?'

our primary school has a gym hall, but no changing rooms. From the time the kids go to the "bottom corridor" ie this year its years 4, 5, and 6, the girls get changed for PE in the classroom, the boys get changed in the branch-off corridor (ie not the main thoroughfare of the school) near the toilets. Then they swap over the next week. None of the pupil toilets are big enough to accommodate a group of 10 or more children.

Before year 4 (or even in year 4 if they are in the "top corridor" ie younger kids rooms) they change together in the classroom for PE.

I agree with the crop top idea, my DD wears one and so do almost all her friends, especially on PE days (my DD has been wearing them since year 5). Obviously that doesn't help solve the problem if she's "leaked" at that time of the month. But as has been said above, there are ways of getting changed, especially on organised PE days (ie you know its coming) to minimise anyone seeing your underwear.

kazmc

Thankyou so much everyone for your replies.
I will definitely be speaking to my DDs teacher.

Its not so much the periods/leaking that is the problem as at the moment they are infrequent and very very light.

However, ,my DD is so mature bodywise she is currently in size 10 adult clothes and towers over the other kids in her class so she is very self conscious to begin with. Add to that boobs and the fact she has started her periods and it makes her feel even worse.
There is no way she would wear a vest, she would be laughed out of class. She does wear crop tops but they do not hide much.
She feels even more self conscious if she wears anything different from her peers.
The whole changing in front of the boys is just making her even more self conscious because she is so more advanced than her friends.
thanks again everyone for your replies...