hi @DustWolf, Im gonna save up my points and try helping you.

I am going to close this thread because it was intended for discussing the concept of gear, while most of these replies are just people advertising how very therian they are because if things they've brought in a store... Which is obviously not how therianthropy works.

It's honestly disappointing and it doesn't have to continue being butchered by people who obviously cannot be bothered to read the other posts.

LP,
Dusty

(2017-06-10 18:36)BearX Wrote:  I have a necklace made from a black bear claw. In case you are concerned, the bear had been hit by a car, it was not killed to make the necklace. It is the closest I come to having accessories. Having an item of bearish origin on my person makes me feel closer, spiritually, to my kin.

Tbh I wish I had something similar to you. Having a feather of a red kite as a necklace or any other accessory would be a blessing for me. Idk about horse tho.. perhaps some leather from a horse saddle, bridle etc. as a bracelet as I am domesticated.

I don’t have any gear yet, but I’m gonna make masks with a friend of mine! She is a calico/wolf/bear polyTherian. She might join the TG, I hope she does!

Gear is such a helpful way to connect with your theriotype. For those of us with phantom shifts, they can be very comforting.

(2024-05-08 17:04)Rainshine1220 Wrote:  Hi! As someone who has rlly struggled with bullying around my animalistic behaviours, I’m rlly glad that ur son has someone to support him through such difficult things! Since most of my bullying happened when I was slightly older, so would attempt correcting the misinformation people were bullying me for( I was in year 9 or 14 years old for the worst of it) (which was unfortunately not successful). For me (UK experience so may be different!) it took a year of meetings before my school delivered a series of assemblies on the topic which is the only thing that worked to slightly slow down the bullying I was experiencing. In said assembly, they usually outlined basic topics of inclusion and diversity, as well as dispelling the various topics of stigma around the therian community.As in your son’s case they are younger, kind and basic explanations of these assemblies over a longer time period may lead to others being more accepting and open if they stop believing misinformation , but honestly I know little about this so that’s all I can suggest! Overall, supporting him in any way is amazing!! Evidence wise, the only places I know of are here really. Sorry! Maybe look on YouTube for some educational videos to compile evidence? Good luck with stopping the bullying

Thanks @Rainshine1220, we're also in the UK so it's good to hear that at least one school has done something like this so it is possible, even if it took them a long time to get there.

Hi! As someone who has rlly struggled with bullying around my animalistic behaviours, I’m rlly glad that ur son has someone to support him through such difficult things! Since most of my bullying happened when I was slightly older, so would attempt correcting the misinformation people were bullying me for( I was in year 9 or 14 years old for the worst of it) (which was unfortunately not successful). For me (UK experience so may be different!) it took a year of meetings before my school delivered a series of assemblies on the topic which is the only thing that worked to slightly slow down the bullying I was experiencing. In said assembly, they usually outlined basic topics of inclusion and diversity, as well as dispelling the various topics of stigma around the therian community.As in your son’s case they are younger, kind and basic explanations of these assemblies over a longer time period may lead to others being more accepting and open if they stop believing misinformation , but honestly I know little about this so that’s all I can suggest! Overall, supporting him in any way is amazing!! Evidence wise, the only places I know of are here really. Sorry! Maybe look on YouTube for some educational videos to compile evidence? Good luck with stopping the bullying

(2024-05-08 13:45)little wolf Wrote:  I agree, having to mask is very bad for mental health, and it sucks that right now, we live in a world where a lot of people have to do so. I truly, genuinely hope this can one day change, especially in schools that are supposed to be safe places for kids to learn and grow. I think sharing the informational guide on this website might help, and if I come across any good research-based material I'll send it your way!

Thanks Little Wolf!

(2024-05-08 14:03)AvisTheDutchie Wrote:  The TG itself is a good resource, but it may be difficult to get this specific instance since quadrobics is a hobby and not technically a part of therianthropy. I would encourage your kid to be more reserved where he is "him/her/themself" in public.
Please inform your kid to stay safe!!!
Thank you so much for being a supportive parent!
(I saw your intro, and not only can you notify people by @/ing their username, you can also press the quote button! Just a helpful tip )

Thanks for the tip Avis.

It's so difficult finding that balance between safety and authenticity, I hate that so many of us have to choose between them.

I haven't consciously thought about it but it seems my instinct has been to make sure my son doesn't do quads etc in public places unless I am there to make sure he's safe. I have had to talk to some kids who were being nasty about it but my impression was these were the sort of kids that didn't need much of an excuse to bully someone, so it almost feels like if it wasn't about being therian it could easily have been about something else. If I thought people might be receptive I'd get some cards printed with info on to help people learn but maybe what I really need is one that reads "While you were staring at my son wondering what's 'wrong' with him, I was thinking the same about you and your manners".

The TG itself is a good resource, but it may be difficult to get this specific instance since quadrobics is a hobby and not technically a part of therianthropy. I would encourage your kid to be more reserved where he is "him/her/themself" in public.
Please inform your kid to stay safe!!!
Thank you so much for being a supportive parent!
(I saw your intro, and not only can you notify people by @/ing their username, you can also press the quote button! Just a helpful tip )

I agree, having to mask is very bad for mental health, and it sucks that right now, we live in a world where a lot of people have to do so. I truly, genuinely hope this can one day change, especially in schools that are supposed to be safe places for kids to learn and grow. I think sharing the informational guide on this website might help, and if I come across any good research-based material I'll send it your way!

Thanks @little wolf @-CR4ZY.C4T- and @Bagera I do hear you. My son and I are both autistic and have to mask a lot of other stuff every day just to survive. We have a lot of conversations about when it is necessary to mask and when we can be our authentic selves. I also work as a researcher and it's clear in the research how harmful masking is for mental health for autistic people. So I think this informs my wanting to create more safe spaces for him to do quads in as I see it as similar to our right to stim freely as long as nobody is being harmed by it. I get that in public places with unknown people, especially some kids, bullying is going to happen if he is visibly therian. I still feel that within school people should be able to learn to respect this different way of being. I have already spoken to school about the bullying which isn't only about Therian stuff. I have another meeting with them on Friday but when I spoke to them a couple of weeks ago they'd literally never heard of therianthropy so this is why I'm looking for good quality info to share with them. Sadly I think they'd pay a lot more attention to something more official looking from like a charity or something than a home made poster.