Kids' reactions.

[Southern Breeze]

The first kids to see me in a kilt were my nephews. Their reaction? 'Cool!'

[GreenDragon]

I think it's better to expose kids to any concept that you don't want to have to undo later before they have a chance to form an opinion on it. The littlest ones don't usually have any prejudice and see everything new as something of interest. It's only later - admittedly, not much later - that they start figuring out that the people around them have pinned meanings to everything.

You wear a kilt to work? In Cincinnati?

Regards neighbor,
Rex.

only on a couple of days so far, sir.

St Patty's was one and the other was a Saturday where our small group was some of the only people in the office.

but HR has no problems with it. neither does my dept manager. and the Division VP asked where i got mine from.

[bawright]

my girls dont mind at all, its just dad in a kilt....gess that's a blessing, the oldest is 12 but she doesnt bat a eye...

[Standard]

My son who jsut turned 20 is not quite sure, although he did admit to looking into getting a utilikilt this summer while working at camp. I saw pictures of a couple of the other counselors who had them on during staff training.
My daughter, 17, loves it. She has even asked me if I'll wear it when she gets married, to which I replied of course I will. Its nice to have the support of your family.

[ThistleDown]

I guess I'm fortunate in several ways, but primarily in that my neices, nephews and surrogate children have rarely seen me in anything but a kilt. It's not a strange dress to them, but the norm for me (and for some others in my family). A new prospective in-law and I talked about this once some time ago and he pointed out the high acceptance level of young children. The idea that you dress differently to others comes later in life -- children simply like or dislike what they see barring any interference from the influential adults in their lives.

As another Canadian kilt-wearer put in another thread, Canadians and Scots are really 'way up' on the rest of you lot: the kilt is so often seen on our streets and in our homes that few comments are made (other than admiring ones). Ah, the office is still a concern, but that obstacle will be overcome, too, with patience and time.

[JakobT]

I find kids to be quite open to new ideas. Once I was stopped in the street by a girl, she may have been seven or eight years old. She asked me why I was wearing a skirt, and when I explained to her what a kilt was, she accepted it at once. Kids will usually ask about anything that doesn't fit in with what they already know, but as long as they get an answer they can understand they just expand their view of the world to accommodate the new information. Grownups are usually much more entrenched in their views.

[staticsan]

My son hasn't seen it yet, but then he's only 2 and wouldn't see it as strange. My ex-wife hasn't seen my kilted yet, either, though that's for quite a different reason.

My nieces have, though, as I have chronicled already. They're 6 and 8. Both thought it strange which is probably a reflection of their upbringing so far... :-/

Wade.

[Ozman1944]

I don't have any kids, but today as I was walking to my car in my Camo Sportskilt at a large Mall, a carload of teenage girls driving by stopped and sang out "Hey! That is just so cool!" I said 'Well thank you ladies', they all smiled happily, waved, then drove off.

[haxtonhouse]

I teach fifth grade at a school with a pre-school program. even the youngest kids are really open. a few of them have asked "Why are you wearing a dress?" and their mothers then tell them its a kilt and explain that its a traditional garment from Scotland, and then they are all OK with it. I wear my kilt every Wednesday, and a couple of boys have started wearing kilts on Wednesdays too!

[ThistleDown]

I teach fifth grade at a school with a pre-school program. even the youngest kids are really open.

THAT'S what I was trying to say! Thanks, Haxton. Kids are great; it's their parents who cause them problems.