Heading back to school after the summer holidays can be a pressured experience for both parents and children alike, especially in the area of school uniform. One of our founders, Laraine Robathan-Field shares her insights on the benefits of uniform.
A phone call from a friend prompted me to write this post. She was upset after a tussle with her 11 year old daughter about having to wear school uniform. For many youngsters last week’s return to school no doubt brought excitement and fear in equal measure, especially for those about to start ‘big school’. Social media was plastered with proud parents showing pictures of uniformed youngsters. However, the school uniform can be one of the most stressful aspects for parents and children alike.
Wearing a daily uniform often coincides with the age at which we often feel self conscious and worry about body image. Fear of social rejection and concern that our appearance is in question may lead to avoiding situations and missing out on fun activities and making new friends. A poor body image often results in low self-esteem and negative thoughts can lead to eating disorders. Bullies often use appearance as a means to direct their jibes and torment, making school life a misery for some pupils.
Add to this the external influences such as magazines, advertising, film, television and the fashion industry, it’s no wonder that parents and children find it one of the most challenging aspects of school life.
So what can we do to help the transition go a little more smoothly? It’s important to explain to your child that wearing a uniform has many advantages as it:
- removes the decision about what to wear saving time, effort, worry and energy
- gives a sense of belonging to a team & community
- provides a means of identification
- saves money in the long run than having to buy a range of clothing
- removes some of the peer pressure about following fashion & trends
- means everyone is the same irrespective of individual budgets
- provides practical and usually easy care
- gets children used to a dress code and standard of dress which they may encounter in future careers
- allows children to get more excited about ‘out of school’ clothes which gives them the opportunity to express their individuality.
Your school will be able to advise you about where and what to buy. High street stores and supermarkets have made school uniforms affordable for everyone and many schools and parent groups have pre loved items for sale. Involve your child in the process and make sure that all items are comfortable to wear. Get them excited about the idea of wearing a uniform, reiterating the advantages. Encourage them to take pride in their clothing and make sure they know the basics of good grooming.
If you have any concerns you should discuss them with your school who will have encountered most issues involving uniforms including bullying. If you would like further information about body image and self-esteem take a look at the Dove Self-Esteem Project that provides excellent resources for both schools and parents.
Image: Marks and Spencer
Image courtesy of prshots.com
This blog post was adapted from LRF Style and the original post can be found here.
