I do not like nativity plays

Yabu to not go to your kids future performances. Yes sometimes they're boring, sometimes they're not, but every kid is happy when they spot their parent in the audience and that's worth the boredom

I tend to enjoy them, it's nice seeing your kid and their mates on stage. I tend to find them hilarious, not the story/play itself necessarily but just because when you put a bunch of primary aged kids on a stage there's going to be something funny at some point - one kid singing really loudly, another picking his nose and eating it, the kid who is very obviously miming and gives zero shits. I dunno, they make me giggle 🤷

Just accept it for what it is. Appreciate the time and effort that has gone into it from the teachers and children.

I loved my DCs, shed a few tears. Very cute.

Stop being a Scrooge.

Spot on. A school nativity or any school performance is so much more than the end result. The experience of rehearsals and learning to perform (in any sphere) in front of others, memorising lines, learning songs, learning to create… masses more.
The arts in all their forms are fundamental even to those with no real interest because they give us other skills.
And who knows, someone at that nativity may have caught the bug!
Besides, an argument along the lines of ‘what is the point if they don’t enjoy it?’ Would hardly (I imagine) be supported by this parent re other school activities such as maths and English and science.

You don’t have to like it, it’s for the children. Your child will remember you not being there if that’s what you decide to do

Bloody hell - aren't you a bundle of laughs OP! 🙄

Don't go again if that is how you feel about the whole nativity play thing.

I just feel sorry for your DD. She will inevitably be scouring the audience to see if you have changed your mind, and are there to watch her and her classmates. I have attended countless plays etc over the years with my 3 DC - and I have lost count the children whose faces light up when they spot their parent / grandparent in the audience.

Poor kid

It’s not for YOU. It’s for your child…

I think nativity plays are like most things in life tbh. You can choose to enjoy them or you can choose to find them tedious.

Life is happier when you choose to find the good in stuff, but if you prefer to see the glass half empty, then that is entirely your prerogative.

The PTA at DD's school has mulled wine on offer for the performance that starts in the evening. I think this may be the key.

I never had anyone come to see me in my school nativity. My parents were working or too busy. It broke my heart. I think it’s a very poor show to just not be bothered.

I love ‘em, they bring a small tear to my eye. Admittedly I’m only onto my second year of them (DD in Year 1) but our school does a bit of a year group effort, with each class singing a song en masse, as stars, wise men and shepherds, then non-speaking Mary, Joseph and a donkey popping up for the last act.

Watching all the small people, some of whom I’ve known since they were tinies, singing away in their wonky outfits for 30-odd mins brings a bit of joy to the rest of my dull day.

I love a nativity, but then my dc enjoy taking part. I went to see ds1's college play a couple of years ago and that was brilliant. My then 13 year old asked if we could go the next year even though there was nobody we knew in it. So I took him and will take him again next year. My youngest is in secondary school now so the quality of acting is much better than when they were little. But I have a soft spot for watching 30 4 and 5 olds being guided onto the stage, the shepherds wearing tea towels on their heads and the angels wearing white.

I'm not quite sure what you were expecting OP 🫠🫠🫠

Personally I love nativity plays with all my heart. Can't wait for this year's. 🌟

You could say this about quite a lot of school TBH…. And also quite a lot of Christmas!

I think there’s a lot of stuff that we do in school or for Christmas “because we always have” and we could do with reexamining whether anyone is actually enjoying or benefitting from that particular aspect

They are probably a regular poster on mumsnet then.

I tried to post the clip but can't seem to get the link. BUT... the girl on stage is a 14 yr old Amy Winehouse!! Mind blown. Sorry for derail. if you search up Fast show competitive Dad school play on YouTube it comes up

If you're going to get offended by sexist stereotypes, surely the virgin mary tops the inn keepers wife?

Did your child like it? Were they looking out for you in the crowd? That’s the part they like the most is seeing their parents/loved ones in the audience in my experience. I could never let them down like that just because I can’t be arsed.

It was based on 2000 bloody years ago. What do you expect?

My DS is autistic and I spent his whole Nativity worried that he was hating it because he looked terrified, but turned out he really enjoyed it and just doesn't feel the impulse to share that with his face (see also theme parks, days out, presents, shows).

OP, if you got no joy from watching children try really hard and be really proud of what they achieve, that is genuinely your loss.

Very meta for primary school!

Were you expecting a London musical show? Hamilton or Les Mis or Wicked.

perhaps you didn’t have realistic expectations of 5 year olds abilities

Anyone else think of the competitive Dad from the Fast show? The one at the school play. I think of that scene every single time I go to a kids play or show.

I love being a parent but if I'm honest i cant stand anything that involves a large number of parents / kids, nativities, kids parties, toddler groups etc...but then I'm not very sociable generally

My DD was one of those deer in headlights, would rather be anywhere but here types.

She actually has happy memories of those plays now shes a teenager.

The worst performance i saw at Primary was when they decided to write their own play on how difficult it was to put nativity plays on, including every child in the school but only six speaking parts.