To quite like theme days at nursery where the kids dress a certain way?

[Pozzled]

At DD1's nursery they have asked children to dress in red/gold today for Chinese New Year. DD wore a red t-shirt, jumper and hairband- nice and easy. But when we walked in, there were 9 or 10 children in the room, and only 2 wearing something vaguely red.

The signs have been up for a while- since Christmas I think.
All the children wore something red for their Christmas events, so it's not that they didn't have anything to wear.

AIBU to think that this is a shame and a bit lazy of the parents?

How do you feel about these days- like, ignore or participate reluctantly?

Lazy? Or perhaps chronically busy, forgetful, crap at laundry, ill, depressed, have 17 other children, or child refused to wear red........?

AIBU to think its none of use business whether my kid wears a red tshirt, like nursery age children give a shiny shite about chinese new year?

I like them. But I also accept that not everyone does, and it doesn't matter if people don't participate.

I've missed a couple due to being so busy and not having enough notice. I'd hate to think that others thought me lazy. On the other hand, I've sat up late sewing a cow costume as well, and don't expect a prize!

pozzled you are being a bit judgy, some parents are just really busy, or forgetful like me.

I think parents are busy and forget. At least, I do.

The nurseries often have spare attire for children with forgetful parents like me.

I always used to dress DD for these things, as she has lots of colourful clothes and she likes it.

But DS I mostly haven't bothered, because he has only assorted sludgy coloured boy clothes and he is not interested at all. That's if I remember, of course.

Wow, I didn't realise that people would feel so strongly.

Apologies, I do indeed realise that it's one of a hundred things to remember before the school run. I didn't mean to come across as so judgy, more mildly surprised.

It was the fact that virtually no one took part that surprised me, it made me think that perhaps other parents find such days annoying and don't want to participate, rather than simply having forgotten.

I don't find them annoying at all, and I do try to remember.

Also my DS isn't always keen, especially if it's "a girl colour"

Sometimes a note the day before is more effective than weeks of notice. And the Chinese New Year just isn't as big a deal in the western world as Christmas. (Though it is where I work as so many Chinese - lots of yummy food today!)

Haha! I would like to see anyone try to make DS2 wear what he doesn't want! And I am too lazy to have a fight in the morning while getting ready to work and to school.

imagine - I am Chinese and it's the food that I care about, not the red/gold stuff. Don't even get me started on the condescension of supermarkets to have a little shelf selling ready-made sauces and instant noodles as if that's what we'll eat on the biggest occasion of the Chinese calendar...

I am clearly a shit lazy parent as I HATE themed days , it's just yet another thing to think about

Mmm the dumplings...

The children made paper dragons but me, I was just hanging out for the dumplings

i find it hard enough getting us all out of the door as it is without trying to force ds, who is usually having a screaming shit-fit, into anything that isn't his favourite spiderman top.

i don't want to have to go and buy special clothes in the right colour either.

The dumplings ... I'm having great difficulty concentrating on work. Want to cook LOTS of things...

What hobnob said.

If it's something I have to go even slightly out of my way to get organised for, then it's Adding To My List.
Woe betide anyone who wants to Add To My List.

I like stuff like this, and like you I used to get disappointed when others didn't join in. I have well and truly lost enthusiasm with the dress up as a book character for world book day though.

I like those days despite working full time. My dc like dressing up and making costumes, so it's not that stressful for us, and I appreciate the nursery or school making things varied and interesting for the dc.

We have never resorted to sewing a costume late at night, if we are stuck then we'll just make a mask out of the back of a cereal packet. Admittedly everyone in our house likes art and craft, junk modelling etc, so I can see why other people might find that more stressful than we do.

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It depends how frequent these things are, u would send in fancy dress maximum 3/4 times in a year, more frequently and it would become an irritation.

I prefer it if the kids make and wear the things themselves, hats or crowns....maybe with a dragon or the creature that the year is this yr for Chinese new yr.

Interesting range of opinions, thanks. I wouldn't expect anyone to buy something special, or spend hours on a costume. I might do either, but only if DD wanted to and it didn't happen too often. And when I didn't have a huge pile of work or housework etc!

I thought that 'wear red' would be easy for most 3-4 year olds but I can see that some children would be easier to persuade than others.

Personally I love it, but my DD is a drama queen theatrical soul and loves dressing up. I didn't really bother before she showed an interest.
I do believe in practical costumes for preschoolers though - usually a tunic than can be easily removed and binned if she gets red paint over it, rather than spending ages (or a small fortune) on a princess costume or whatever.

Can completely understand why some people find it stressful, but I love the fact that nursery make the effort to have themes for what they do. If it got competitive with the other parents I'd stop enjoying it so much. Can't quite see the problem with 'wear red', but that's just me...

I absolutely hate themed days.

Dressing up in a certain colour does seem a reasonable request but DD school has had themes of aliens, victorians, favourite book character etc which require time and planning. Some of the kids turned up in school uniform - whether this is due to costs/laziness/forgetfulness, I don't know, but I did feel a little sorry for the kids seeing all thier mates in full costume. Some parents went the whole hog and bought a costume especially.

If the school have a theme day then why can't they just make some sort of costume/hat/accessory in school lessons so everyone has something to wear.

theme days are a PITA especially on a monday morning.