Teacher told class they need to wear deodorant.

[Anonymous]

Baby powder is bad for kids' lungs. Aluminum in deodorant may contribute to alzheimer's. Check out recommendations on Environmental Working Group. Excellent website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is 9, and in 4th grade.



Am I way off base here? Is it normal for a 4th grade teacher to give a blanket directive to a bunch of nine year olds to start using deodorant???

A vehement yes. Some 9 year olds, including girls really do need deodorant! OMG.

[Anonymous]

I was a stinky kid at that age. For some crazy reason (I think it was aluminum cobined with some weird modesty for girls thing) my parents were anti deoderant. By fifth grade I was embarrassed by the smell and sixth grade mortified. I would wear my coat zipped up in the warmest of weather amd cringe every time a teacher or coach would give the "Everyone lets wear deoderant tomorrow" speech to the group. I knew it meant me.

I finally got the smarts to sneak my teenage sister's deoderant. Thank God my parents finally got over that weirdness by seventh grade.

Please, please moms, buy your kids deoderant. This is not a moral issue. It is a hygene and good manners issue.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grade teacher did this too. 1984

[Anonymous]

2nd grade DD needs deodorant, especially on PE days and no question in warm weather. She plays hard and we noticed in the fall that she came home stinky a few times. No one wants to be the stinky kid!

[Anonymous]

In my day, it was not an issue....we did not have AC, so the windows were open.

But, I had an after school conference with DD's 4th grade teacher in 2012, and was surprised by the smell...It was quite pungent.

(I started wearing deodorant at 14; my mom told me I needed it. Probably needed it since 12.

[Anonymous]

It's part of the Human Growth and Development health lesson starting in fourth grade, so it seems appropriate.

[Anonymous]

D O for the B O

[Anonymous]

This made me so nostalgic. My 4th grade teacher gave this lecture to the class 25 years ago. I'm remembering the smell of Teen Spirit right now.

Look, maybe your DD Is behind, but lots and lots of girls had breast development starting by 4th grade when I was a kid, and I was one of more than a handful who got periods in 5th grade. This kind of stuff is coming down the pipe fast for you, and you need to wrap your head around it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This made me so nostalgic. My 4th grade teacher gave this lecture to the class 25 years ago. I'm remembering the smell of Teen Spirit right now.

Look, maybe your DD Is behind, but lots and lots of girls had breast development starting by 4th grade when I was a kid, and I was one of more than a handful who got periods in 5th grade. This kind of stuff is coming down the pipe fast for you, and you need to wrap your head around it now.

+1. Our class got the same talk in 4th grade. I developed early and was already wearing deodorant by that time because my mom kindly bought me some after we both noticed I needed it--I got my period about a month after I turned 11. Some of my classmates weren't wearing deodorant and believe me, the talk was MUCH appreciated!

As a former middle school teacher, I once had to discuss proper use of body spray with the 6th grade class that came into my classroom right after gym. The Axe Effect was so bad that I thought someone would have an asthma attack.

[Anonymous]

If you're child doesn't smell after being physically active, don't worry about it. It's not like the teacher will check each child.

I personally wouldn't feel offended by the teachers comment, afterall some kids do smell and the teacher has to smell it all day. As long as she didn't single out a child, not a big deal. In the end, you're the mom so do what you think is best for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a stinky kid at that age. For some crazy reason (I think it was aluminum cobined with some weird modesty for girls thing) my parents were anti deoderant. By fifth grade I was embarrassed by the smell and sixth grade mortified. I would wear my coat zipped up in the warmest of weather amd cringe every time a teacher or coach would give the "Everyone lets wear deoderant tomorrow" speech to the group. I knew it meant me.

I finally got the smarts to sneak my teenage sister's deoderant. Thank God my parents finally got over that weirdness by seventh grade.

Please, please moms, buy your kids deoderant. This is not a moral issue. It is a hygene and good manners issue.

+1

Yes!! @ not moral but hygiene. Same applies for shaving. Many parents are against their kids shaving or waxing in late elementary years because they feel it's too young. Don't go by age, if your child requests it please do it because they might get made fun of and it can affect their self esteem/ confidence. Besides, they will have to shave eventually so what's the harm?

-Signed a south Asian hairy woman

[Anonymous]

In my kids school all the 4th graders (globally) were told that they need to wear deodorants as well as take daily showers.

I have no objection to it because this is at par with the health and sex education they are given at this grade. They are reaching puberty (some earlier than other) and giving some blanket instructions to all the kids about cleanliness and grooming removes the embarrassment factor that would come if only a few kids were singled out.

[Anonymous]

I bought some natural salt (alum) based deoderant for my kids, from whole foods.
They also picked some very fancy smelling bodywash and lotions from Bath & Bodyworks. I am happy that they are becoming aware about their need to be well groomed.

[Anonymous]

My 4th grade son stinks. He showers nightly--but his pit funk is atrocious. I issue reminders every morning to put on the deo. DH only wants him using the Tom's organic Bs- but it doesn't work! He needs the industrial stuff. He is a very athletic kid. I feel for his teacher and the carpool drivers to practice.

Once he starts caring more about girls, he'll care about deo, tight??? He thinks it's funny now.