I think there are legitimate mental health reasons that would support such a note on behalf of a 14 year old girl. (Or boy, if he was asking.) I think it's fine.

What about a rash guard and board shorts?

I would let her out. But make a deal she gets swim lessons.

Yep. I wouldn’t participate in being in a swim suit around my work colleagues, so I wouldn’t force my kid do to do the same.

I would absolutely do this. I would have sooner run away from home than be in a bathing suit in front of my peers.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. She’s facing the exact same insecurities and issues that many other girls of her age face. Get her a swim cap and her hair will be fine.

+1
There are times when you do need to protect your kid, but there are times when you need to not coddle them and help them deal with life. Get a reasonably modest swimsuit and a swim cap.

Just no

She needs to suck it up, and you do too as a parent.

Nope. She’s facing the exact same insecurities and issues that many other girls of her age face. Get her a swim cap and her hair will be fine.

DD is under my care for a condition [or skin condition] that prohibits her her participation in aquatics, including but not limited to any physical fitness program swim component.

If the regular doctor is uncooperative try an urgent clinic. Get the skin lesions looked at, get advised about treatment, get a prescription if indicated, and have the note copied into their letterhead and signed.

No, I wouldn't do this.

I'd work with DD to find some sort of outfit that she could live with. We are in a school district that requires this for MS students, as well. The information that comes home from the PE teachers makes it clear that they can wear a bathing suit, shorts/T-Shirt, or any other outfit that can get wet that they are comfortable in.

You can’t be serious.

Does she already know how to swim?
Would she get exercise another way those days?
Are there any waterproof swim caps?

I would do it.

Not a chance would I ever do this.

Curious about other parents opinions. I have a 14 year old 8th grader in a school with yearly swim units in PE. Due to Covid, these units have been optional until this year. Now, the only way to be excused is with a doctors note. My daughter desperately wants to get out of swim unit. For most unpleasantness with school, I absolutely tell her to either deal with it or accept the school’s consequence. But, I totally understand, and find appropriate that a 14 year old girl would be horrified to be in a bathing suit in front of her peers. For context, shes a healthy weight and has pretty mild acne/bacne, but, she also has really curly hair that is hard to deal with when wet. I told her I’d ask the doctor for an excuse note, but we wouldn’t lie. So, if the doctor will just write a note excusing her, and the school accepts it with no pushback, I’m fine facilitating that. Curious if others would handle the same way.