by Hayley Robinson

Pupils have been banned from wearing coloured plastic bracelets at a town primary school because they have hidden sexual meanings.

John Day, head of Regis Manor Community Primary School, noticed a few of the children wearing the thin rubbery bands at the start of the term.

But he was appalled when he found out that the colour and the breaking of the bands indicates the wearer’s willingness to perform certain sexual acts.

The bands, which many children refer to as sex bracelets, can be worn one at a time or interconnected together on the wrists, ankles or around the neck.

Children chase each other around and, if caught and a band is snapped, the pupil is meant to “pay” whichever forefeit the colour represents.

Worried parents may not be aware that the bands encourage sexual promiscuity Mr Day included an article about the bracelets in a recent newsletter which was sent home.

He said: “It’s amazing how many parents don’t seem to know about their meaning. Some of the youngsters even call them by their proper name and know that they are to do with sex.

“We have a no jewellery policy at the school so when I saw some of them wearing the bands they were told to take them off but one or two have still been wearing them and that’s when I found out about the meaning behind them.

“I’m not so sure the younger ones know the meaning. None have been confiscated as most of the children adhere to the rules but staff have been told to confiscate them and bring them to me if they see any pupils wearing them from now on.

“It’s taking away their childhood when they’re thinking about that sort of thing at such a young age and I hope parents will have the same thoughts as me that it isn’t appropriate for children to be thinking about those sort of things and not let them wear them.”

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “Different colour wristbands have been used in many campaigns to highlight good causes.

However, today’s youth have devised a new sexual meaning for these. The wearing of these wristbands by primary schools pupils has been brought to KCC’s attention.

“A small number of schools have taken action to reduce the wearing of these bands and it is felt they are best placed to make that decision.

“It raises the issue of how relationships are taught in schools. Young people were challenged to tell us what they expected from their Personal, Heath and Social Education. The result of that is a new charter which will be launched today .”

Some of the meanings behind the colours of the bracelets:

Clear - indicates a willingness to do anything the snapper wants
Glittery Clear - wearer will let the snappee “feel up” or touch any body part
Glittery Pink - willing to “flash” a body part
Glittery Purple - willing to French kiss
Glittery Yellow - indicates kissing and hugging is acceptable
Yellow - wearer is willing to hug
Pink - wearer is willing to give alove bite
Orange - wearer is willing to kiss
Purple - wearer is willing to kiss a partner of either sex
White - wearer will flash what they have