🎓 Ask Art
My Child Has Grown 4 Inches Over Summer… Help!
Real advice from Grays Schoolwear
Summer holidays are brilliant for children—but they can be a shock for parents when it comes to school uniform.
One minute everything fits perfectly. Six weeks later, trousers are halfway up their legs, sleeves are too short, and school shoes suddenly feel very tight.
If you’re standing there wondering where your little one disappeared to over the summer, don’t worry—you definitely aren’t the only one!
Why Do Children Seem to Grow So Much During Summer?
Many children experience growth spurts during the summer holidays.
They spend more time outdoors, they’re often more active, and before you know it they’ve grown several centimetres.
It’s one of the main reasons parents are surprised when they try last year’s uniform on in August.
Start with a Uniform Check
Before you buy anything new, ask your child to try everything on.
Check:
✔ Blazer
✔ Jumper or cardigan
✔ Shirts or blouses
✔ Trousers or skirts
✔ PE kit
✔ School shoes
You might only need to replace a couple of items rather than buying a complete new wardrobe.
The Biggest Mistake We See
One of the most common mistakes is buying everything one or two sizes too big.
We completely understand why parents do it—they’re hoping the uniform will last longer.
But oversized uniform can:
- Look untidy.
- Be uncomfortable.
- Affect confidence.
- Wear out in the wrong places.
Our advice is always to buy for a comfortable fit today, with just enough room for growth.
Don’t Forget School Shoes
Children’s feet grow just as quickly.
School shoes should have a little room at the front but shouldn’t be so big that your child’s feet slide around.
Poorly fitting shoes can become uncomfortable very quickly once they’re back in school all day.
PE Kit Matters Too
PE kit is often forgotten until the first lesson.
Check:
- Shorts
- Polo shirt
- Tracksuit bottoms
- Hoodie or ¼ zip
- Trainers
If they’re too tight now, they certainly won’t feel comfortable after another term of growing.
Art’s Top Tip ⭐
If your child has had a growth spurt, replace the essentials first.
A properly fitting blazer, trousers or skirt and school shoes make the biggest difference.
You can often keep jumpers, cardigans and PE kit for a little longer if they still fit comfortably.
Don’t Leave It Until the Last Weekend
Every August we meet parents who discover, just days before school starts, that nothing fits anymore.
Shopping a little earlier gives you:
- Better stock availability.
- More choice of sizes.
- Less stress.
- More time to exchange items if needed.
💬 Ask Art
Got a question about school uniform?
Whether you’re worried about sizing, PE kit, school shoes or choosing the right uniform, we’re always happy to help.
At Grays Schoolwear we’ve been helping local families prepare for school for over 100 years, and we’ve seen just about every growth spurt imaginable!
Pop into our Blackburn or Clitheroe store, give us a call or send us a message.
Your question could even become our next Ask Art blog!
“No question is too small. If it matters to your family, it matters to us.”
— Art & the Grays Schoolwear Team