To think that Christmas jumper day is a bad way for schools to raise money?

[Pico2]

DD is in reception, so this is her first year of pay £1 to wear a Christmas jumper to school. A Christmas jumper costs about £10 from Tesco (we live rurally, any savings on buying from Primark would be erased by the petrol cost). Much like other children she grows like a weed, so we'd probably only get 2 years max out of a jumper. We wouldn't buy her one otherwise. So a charity will get perhaps £2 over 2 years out of the £12 spent. I appreciate that it isn't obligatory, but like most parents I try to get DD to participate where possible. Am I the only parent to think that this benefits shops far more than charities?

[RomComPhooey]

I hate this too.

Does she have a dark green jumper you can customise with safety pinned on tinsel and baubles?

[Akire]

Sounds dire. Can u send her in colourful top with but of tinsel around waist/neck. Don't think school mind just excuse wear something silly but buying something special noooo

[Lurleene]

You don't have to buy a jumper - you could just jazz one up with tinsel and baubles.

I see your point though. It always annoys me when we have to donate cakes to school that are then sold off for far less than they cost to make / we paid for them . I would rather just donate the money and cut out the middle man!

[Hillfog]

My DD wore a cardi last year with sellotaped tinsel round the neck and wrists. Looked cute and did the job.

[WorraLiberty]

The idea of this was always to spruce up an old jumper by pinning on decorations/tinsel etc.

Over the years some parents have preferred to buy a Christmas jumper, in the same way some parents prefer to buy costumes for World Book day.

The choice is up to the parents.

[TSSDNCOP]

Buy one big enough for a couple of years. They seem to stretch wildly. ds has one purchased for £8 from Asda that's now 3 years old. It's done the Jumper day, rugby club and Cubs Christmas party days and every Saturday throughout December. It doesn't have to be a one day wonder.

[Mmmmcake123]

I agree OP. I think schools should encourage home made Xmas accessorised tops/jumpers if they want to take this route or provide red Tees for the children to glitterglue at school. If they bought in bulk this wouldn't cost that much.

[TooDamnSarky]

Wouldn't cross my mind to buy something special tbh.
Our school do this every year and my dc just wear whatever they like plus extra tinsel..

[Pico2]

She might go for decorating her own. Sadly she doesn't own anything dark green or actually any jumpers, but could do a cardie.

I'm the same about bake sales. I am very reluctant to spend more in ingredients than the cakes are sold for. Surely children should be taught a little about finances.

[cricketballs]

The xmas jumper I made for DS using tinsel etc from our decorations was worn through out Christmas the other year - you are not being forced to purchase one!

[RomComPhooey]

I was being daft. The jumper doesn't have to be green - damn my Christmas tree literalism!

[Darvany]

Very wasteful. Ten quid even from ASDA and never worn again. DD's school did a 'wear yellow' day in February once and there was fuck all in the shops. Oh, and the edict at Christmas for the children to wear their sandals for the play in December. My children's sandals are knackered by September and wouldn't fit anyway.

I've been noting down the bits and pieces my son's very ordinary stare school have been asking for and it's already over £100 since the start of the year.

[Darvany]

School year that is, so from September.

[Mmmmcake123]

Although you don't have to buy one sometimes with things like this, maybe not in this case, you are given very little time to get creative. You also need a base top or jumper and safety pins etc which you might have to go out and buy. It's lovely to see all the lil ones dressed up but can be an extra pressure you could do without.

[GruntledOne]

Charity shops are your friends.

[laundryeverywhere]

I sometimes buy things for these types of special day, if I think dd will wear it again. Last year I bought her some PJs for a special day and she wore them a lot. I wouldn't buy something for a one wear only though, but if it was a Christmas jumper she might wear quite a bit over the winter I might buy one.

[shutupandshop]

Dd1 has it tomorrow but refuses to take part. Shes a teen though. Stupid idea.

[atticusclaw2]

I have reluctantly bought Christmas hoodies for this very reason and the DCs will be forced to wear them every day throughout the whole of the Christmas holidays since there's no way they'll fit next year.

[RainbowCake]

DS's school does this on the 18th Dec. The money goes to Save the Children, I'm hoping the one I bought last year fits other wise it's just a tinselly (?) creation he will be going in.
His school is very easy going with stuff like this, though I can understand the pressure at other schools especially if you have more than one child.

[Smartiepants79]

Decorate one she already owns.
It's no worse than any other kind of dress up day. At least an Xmas jumper can be reworn over the festive season.

[BackforGood]

Agree with most everyone else - the idea is you jazz up something they have with a bit of tinsel. Doesn't have to cost you anything.

Just the same as all the dressing up days you will get for the next 6.5 years - some people choose to buy costumes. Some already have them in their dressing up box. Some are lucky enough to be given 'hand-me-downs, or to come across them at car boots or charity shops, and others rustle something up.

You do NOT need to spend £10 on a Christmas jumper.

[Smartiepants79]

I think you are missing the point a bit. Money made from this kind of thing and bake sales either go to charity or go towards buying equipment to enhance your child's education. The teachers aren't using it for a night down the pub.
The igredients may have cost more than the cakes are sold for but they cost the school nothing, pure profit.
Please remember that in most schools the staff have also all paid out, bought jumpers, made cakes, donated money to wear said jumper.
We had a fundraiser this week at my school, I worked out that about 50% of the money raised had come from supporting staff members.

[Bogeybrains]

I like it. Spent years bemoaning the fact that noone wore awful Christmas jumpers anymore. And I wasn't alone - they were selling for shit loads on ebay just a few years ago. People can buy them or make them easily enough. IT'S FUN.

[987flowers]

My children love their Christmas jumpers (they have been getting 2 yrs out of a jumper) and wear them lots- family gatherings, going to get the Christmas tree so for us it wouldn't be a waste of money. If you have no additional use then like others have suggested customise!

[mammmamia]

I bought them last year and I have twins so double the cost
They got worn through December though not just one day.
This year DS's one will fit DD so I will only have to buy or create one, and DD's old one will be passed to my nephew so I don't mind too much.
There are also people selling last year's on FB selling groups.