Primary School PE Changng Room Arrangements

Mrs_Ryan

I had this problem myself in primary school. I started my periods at 10 and had 36B boobs this age so was wearing a proper bra. In Year 6 my class still had to get changed altogether and so some of us more developed girls started getting changed in the toilets. One girl lost a bracelet in there so the head (a woman) decreed we had to go back to getting changed altogether.
This led to one girl's parents threatening to withdraw her from the school altogether and I remember not doing PE full stop for a while as my Mum was unhappy too. Eventually the headteacher got us all in and we explained the problem, and were given two solutions - our uniform policy wasnt that strict and we just wore ordinary t-shirts (I seem to recall mine was a pink and white adults stripy one from M&S - I was, and still am, a big girl!) and shorts for PE so we could either put them on under our uniforms at break, so we just had to take our jumpers and skirts off but we were still fully covered at all times, and then as it was our last lesson, we could either change in the toilet or just chuck our clothes back on until we got home; or a select few of us could change in the toilets. Most of us took the first option as we still felt singled out, and it seemed to work well.
I realise that isnt practical in all cases but its definitely not right to force boys and girls to change together at that age.

thegirlintheattic

thatgirlsam wrote: »

I honestly don't know if this is true but a nurse told me once early puberty has been linked to milk - I can't remember if she said it was something to do with hormones or anti-biotics or something?!

Anyway she advised me to only buy organic milk for my children, which I do

Since 1940 the age girls have started their periods has gone steadily down. This is likely due to a combination of things including chemicals that mimic hormones (like growth hormone from cows in milk), better health care, increasing body weight at a younger age and better diet. It is a mix of things not just one thing, and all - bar weight and diet - likely have only a tiny impact.

The chemicals in milk would likely only have an effect if drunk by a mother during pregnancy or within the first two years of life. After that there is nothing to suggest that they can affect onset of puberty due to the assumed mechanism of action.

It's actually a very interesting topic; I studied it sometime ago and still have lots of the references for it. If anyone is interested in seeing some of the scientific evidence for this PM me and I'll send you some links.

Kirri

Mupette wrote: »

I must of had something wrong with me then, i was a late starter and i was about 13.

BUT it's not so much as getting my facts wrong, i never had girls, didn't have any sisters or close friends at that age, and a mother who refused to discuss things down there till i was about 13.

That was standard when I was at school, most of the girls at my girls school started around that time, ie 13 ish, only a very small amount were younger.

I can't actually remember where we changed at primary school but don't think then anyone was that advanced for it to be an issue. At secondary school we had big, thick knickers we wore over own own knickers but then we did have to wear tiny PE skirts. Most were still wearing vests in the first year of secondary school and it wasn't an issue - I'd hate to be in such a pressured environment where girls are so bothered what they look like now.

mammyof7

fluffnutter wrote: »

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

I'm a student teacher and recently spent time in a school were this was the norm :eek:. I must admit I didn't like it and actually neither did the class teacher. My own year one son has a PE kit which all kids have in his school. I still remember myself doing games in knickers and vest 30 odd years ago, and found it awful then. I think some schools need to move with the times.

kazmc

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

Since 1940 the age girls have started their periods has gone steadily down. This is likely due to a combination of things including chemicals that mimic hormones (like growth hormone from cows in milk), better health care, increasing body weight at a younger age and better diet. It is a mix of things not just one thing, and all - bar weight and diet - likely have only a tiny impact.

The chemicals in milk would likely only have an effect if drunk by a mother during pregnancy or within the first two years of life. After that there is nothing to suggest that they can affect onset of puberty due to the assumed mechanism of action.

It's actually a very interesting topic; I studied it sometime ago and still have lots of the references for it. If anyone is interested in seeing some of the scientific evidence for this PM me and I'll send you some links.

Ooh thats strange as I craved milk when I was pregnant - I drank at least 2-3 pints a day!! Maybe thats why my DD is so early developing???... interesting....

Ames

My sister developed very early and wasn't a milk drinker - in fact they thought she might be allergic and so when they could get hold of it she drank goats milk instead.

thegirlintheattic

kazmc wrote: »

Ooh thats strange as I craved milk when I was pregnant - I drank at least 2-3 pints a day!! Maybe thats why my DD is so early developing???... interesting....

It would likely to have only a tiny effect, so I wouldn't worry. The biggest factor is still weight - the heavier the child (or higher the body fat %) the early they should start in theory.