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Three-year-old Lola was told her outfit for preschool was "inappropriate."

When three-year-old Lola Stonehouse came to preschool wearing a sundress on a particularly hot day, her parents thought nothing of it.

But that day, Jamie and Sadie Stonehouse were told via text that if Lola were to wear that dress again, she would need to wear a T-shirt underneath.

Lola attends The Little Years Nursery School in Winnipeg, Canada, and staff reportedly thought her dress was “inappropriate.”

According to Lola’s father, who spoke to Canadian TV news network CTV, the school says girls must have straps that are at least two inches wide.

Lola's mum is distressed about how to tell her young daughter that she can't wear her sundress to school.

 

“She’s not going to understand," she told CTV.

"She’s going to think that maybe she did something wrong, when she very much didn’t.

“So now she’s going to be questioning her own body. And that’s such a young age to even be thinking of something like that.”

While the director of The Little Years Nursery School has refused to comment on the situation, a spokesperson for the wider schools devision clarified to CTV that they don't have a dress code policy, and instead delegate that decision to "school leaders".

"School leaders to use discretion and encourage best practices in a respectful way," they said.

For now, both Jamie and Saidie have stated that they will no longer send Lola to preschool in her sundress - even if it's a decision they don't agree with, and are hoping that it's a rule the school will review.

“It’s a child," says father Jamie.

"Innocence is innocence and we’re the only ones who can give it to them."

Should toddlers be subject to dress codes? Let us know in the comments below. 

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Top Comments

Jean StClair 6 years ago

Couldn't the journalist clarify what exactly the school meant by "inappropriate"? What's inappropriate about her dress??


Kristy 6 years ago

“So now she’s going to be questioning her own body. And that’s such a young age to even be thinking of something like that.” she won't be thinking anything like that if you just tell her that she'd get sunburnt on her shoulders if they are not covered.
Kids don't mind wearing t-shirts underneath dresses. Actually at that age, they don't even mind wearing two different socks. It's the parents who makes a big fuss.

Lauren 6 years ago

Well it is the childcare centre making a big fuss actually. I agree that the parents can just sugar coat it for their little girl, but I understand why they are upset.

Kimbo 6 years ago

Why would they be upset?
It is obviously a sun safe policy the centre has & the parents say they know the dress policy so it's actually on them for not following it!