Primary school bracelets have sexual meanings

The bracelets have been linked to graduations of sexual behaviour, with each colour representing a physical act, ranging from a hug or a kiss to acts that primary school children are much too young to understand.

If someone breaks a band off the wearer’s wrist, the wearer is supposed to offer the physical act that corresponds to that band.

A yellow band means a hug, a pink band means a kiss or a love bite and a black band represents sexual intercourse.

Many parents are unaware of the significance of the shag bracelets their children are wearing. “I was mortified and disgusted,” said Anna Kite from Surrey, mum to 7-year-old Holly. “At that age, they haven’t had any proper sex education. I confiscated the bands immediately.”

Mum Shannel Johnson from Sheffield took action and spoke to the deputy head teacher at her daughter Harleigh’s school. “Not in a million years would I have allowed my daughter to buy them had I known what they symbolise.”

But Richie Hudson, who sells more than 1,600 bands a week in his shop in Croydon, thinks parents are over-reacting. “I don’t think the bands are sexualising children. There are far worse things going on in playgrounds for parents to concern themselves with.”