How do you feel about dressing up for World Book Day?

[Ricekrispie22]

Do you enjoy dressing your child up as a book character? Or would you rather their school didn’t do it?

What do you think?

As a teacher, I don't like it.
It places an unnecessary burden on parents in my opinion. Either people feel pressured into buying a shop costume for one day which seems a huge waste of resources, or parents end up having to buy extras / scramble around to cobble something together from what's in the house.
I'm also not sure what dressing up does to promote reading either and would much rather have a day/afternoon where normal lessons were collapsed and the day was dedicated to reading, or activities based on stories.

But I've been reliably told I'm a grump.

@LolaSmiles
Thats a bloody brilliant suggestion.

On one hand I find it a bit wasteful to dress up, on the other hand I think its really fun and memorable for the children. Id be a bit sad if my childs school didnt do dressing up I think, as its kind of a tradition

I am really glad that we home ed and don’t have to do it! I think it puts pressure on parents and I think it isn’t the best way to foster a love of books.

I hate it! My kids hate dressing up, I hate the pressure of it or buying a costume which will never be worn again.
Kids would love reading more if parents had the time/inclination to read a book with them most nights, rather than wearing a costume one day of the year!

My dds used to love it, and their enthusiasm made it enjoyable - they would get really involved in who they wanted to be and making a costume, it was lovely. Ds is not a big fan (of reading or world book day!) I usually draw something on an old tshirt. I have to dress up and love it, and live the enthusiasm of all the preschool kids, whether their wearing an inventive home made creation, shop bought or are one of the many Elsa's and Spidermen!

My favourite world book day moment was seeing a year 1 girl wearing a full on frontline, with heels and a bonnet (it looked like a beauty pageant outfit) , I asked her who she was and she showed me the copy of Gone With The Wind she was carrying.

I love it but I've always loved dressing up type things. I don't see why people find it so stressful, it's the same time every year so it's not like there is no notice!

I hate it, and I don't feel that it promotes a love of reading.

@LolaSmiles this is what my dc’s school does

Bloody autocorrect...."a full on frontline" should read"a full on crinoline!"

I hate it.

I hated it.

DS school never did dress up, instead they all had to take their favourite book into school and read a couple of their favourite paragraphs to their friends, and then did some kind of activity based on that - like draw a scene from the book, or make a word search, or a crossword with clues (once they got into the older years).

It could be a bit of fun with homemade bits made within a art and craft session at school followed by an assembly 'fashion show' of the costumes.

I wouldn’t mind if it was called Dressing Up Day. Or even £10 to Amazon Day. The best books in my opinion have children wearing normal clothes in, so not fun to dress up in. Mine wants to go as Spongebob Squarepants even though I’ve never seen a book about him. So I’m not a fan, I think schools should do something about actually reading to celebrate world book day and have the kids wearing princess and superhero costumes another day.

What LolaSmiles said

I also think most costumes end up being “what I could get hold of” or “what’s a recognisable character” rather than the child choosing a book character they like.

Happily my DC’s school has ditched the costumes this year, instead they are having an author to visit and doing book related activities. Hooray!

I have to say it's nice to find some like minded souls on this. Usually in education I'm the grump in the corner regarding fancy dress.
We're secondary so the students don't dress up or just y7 do, but every school I've been in wants the staff to dress up, which is fine if you're an established member of staff, firm behaviour management, good relationships etc, but it's a nightmare if you're a new/weaker member of staff or NQT with a tricky class trying to instil discipline with a tricky y10 student whilst dressed as Posttman Pat or Alice in Wonderland.

CalleighDoodle They sound brilliant!

DS1 hates it (we had tears when he arrived at a 5th birthday party and some of the kids were in fancy dress...he’s better now but still doesn’t enjoy it). He goes as something in normal clothes (George from George’s Marvellous Medicine last year...I painted a plastic bottle and labelled it ‘Grandma’s Medicine’).

DS2 I suspect will love it and I’ll make more effort (although probably just try to persuade him to use an outfit he already has, or borrow one).

I cannot understand why it isn't made more simply and inclusive.

Kids asked to bring in their favourite book for example.

What does buying a costume from Sainsburys have to do with reading???

One year my kids school did 'wear PJs and bring your favourit book'. It was fantastic!

There are also plenty of other opportunities for kids to dress up. Our school seems to have some kind of dress up event several times per term

I don't like the waste it inevitably creates.

Also, my older DC (youngest isn't school age yet) loves reading but not fiction (possibly relevant- he's on the waiting list for an assessment for HF ASD), what is he supposed to go as, the periodic table? I don't think he's socially aware enough to care, but sone children might feel they don't read the "right" kind of book if they too are non fiction fans.

God I am so sick of it! Last year of primary for me so assuming it’s not done in secondary school? Every year I order the cheapest costume I can get away with from Amazon. It is such a waste of resources when we are all supposed to be conscious of waste. One year we went to a class assembly the next day the topic was the environment. Felt like bringing in 5 years of costumes and leaving them on the teachers desk!

My elder son has always found it a pointless waste of time and has always gone as himself, star of his autobiography. My younger son (like most of his class) go as footballers. I mean, there’s probably a book.

@CoffeeCoinneseur

Sounds ideal and I wish every bloody school would adopt it!!!