Not to bother writing 29 Christmas cards for my DC's Reception classmates?

[LaGuerta]

He is unlikely to be have the focus to write his own name 29 times let alone the names of each class member, so the job would inevitably fall to me. When he is literate enough and motivated enough to do the job himself then I will happily buy him the cards. Or will this make him a social pariah?

Fuck no YANBU!

Oh good. I had a conversation today that left me wondering whether I was neglecting DS by not providing this service.

To my friend,

What ever it says in the card.

Your son's name.

Not that hard, actually.

Of course, my son's name is Adam. So quick!

But if you don't want to do it, don't do it.

i do for 2/3 particular friends but not for whole class lazy mummy

The environmental group at my DDs' school suggested a couple of years back that each child bring one card to the whole class into school. On the last day of term they each take one card home.

Works well.

That's a great idea BumBiscuits. Not sure I have the influence to introduce it at this stage though.

My DD is using it as handwriting practise for her name. I let her do it when she wants to do it and stop when she is bored. All she does is print her name, I do the rest. Good way of making learning fun, and she loves it.

DD has written cards to her friends in the class- about 5 girls. Are we supposed to send cards to everyone?!

I think some people think that you are supposed to send a card to every child otherwise it isn't fair. Clearly I'm not in this camp.

Wait and see which children send your ds one, and just send them to the ones that have.

I think it's a bit mean not to give them to children that have given to you, unless they have chosen the last day of term to give their cards out.

Writing cards is part of our Christmassy things to do, we have music on and it's fun. I always send to everyone in the class, just in case there is a child that doesn't receive a card, as I would hate for that to happen. Sometimes reception children can be funny about who they pick as friends and knowing that there is an autistic child in class who can be misunderstood by the other children, I wouldn't want him to miss out. I know it's unlikely, but just in case, I can't help myself.

YANBU. I sometimes get the DC a cheap box each to write out themselves simply because it whiles away an hour or two after school one day.

I would never dream of buying them and actually writing them out on DC's behalf to classmates. Life is faaaar too short for shit like that.

I also hate it when the DC bring them home cause then I feel obliged to put them up.

Send in some Christmassy biscuits instead. Sainsburys have sme gingerbread ones for £2.50 a pack. With a bow on the plastic box saying with love from DS...

That's a lovely idea Rowanhart.

We have always just sent one in - normally handmade so a bit of effort goes in, accompanied by a box of Roses or something.

Had no complaints so far!

He could just send a few to his friends maybe? Do a nice drawing in each one? Mine tend to write their own now.

My dd's school encourage them to send 1 card to the whole class, and they display them on a noticeboard. I think she may be one of the only ones who does this, but she likes to make a really nice one. She does get a million tiny identikit cards from children she never plays with though, it just means I don't have to feel at all bad about not sending any back!

Our school does a little post box and all the kids are encouraged to send a card to every one in their class

I buy cheap ones from Poundland, DD1 does her own and I bribe DD2 with a tin of Quality Street to write her name inside each card, then I write the names on the envelopes

We got something home today about a mini post office and stamps and stuff. I don't even know the names of all the children in the class!!

DDs school has just introduced a scheme to bring one card in addressed to the whole school. The cards will then be displayed.

I have ordered a 5' x 5' foot one,

I'm not one for writing out loads of cards from me, let alone from anyone else, so YADNBU.

DS writes out his own, cheap box, cards, but he's now in Y4. For YR and Y1 I printed out a note for each of his classmates saying I wouldn't write them for him but had bought exercise books for kids in Africa instead.

Since nursery class DD has sent home-made cards. A sheet of A4 folded, picture drawn on the front, I write 'To Merry Christmas from' and she writes her name on the inside. I scan and print out 30 copies for her. She then writes recipients name in card, last year I wrote it on the envelope, this year (Y1) she can do that herself. Job done.

If he wants to write a card let him do it - provide a list of names to copy. But just let him do his friends, he doesn't need to send to all the class unless he actually chooses too.

It would only be unfair if you just let him exclude 1 or 2.

i have just done DD and once i get the class list for DS i will help him with his.

SelotapeInMyHairExtensions you're bad.

YANBU - My kids are out of reception but combining their reluctance to focus on writing with my philosophy of only untaking battles I would win, meant that only the teacher & TA got one that year. It was a genuine effort though with lots of praise and hunting for a working pink felt tip. Try and spot the ones where the parent has written it with a 'shaky reception' hand.

• Off to Google 6' x 6' organic, charity Happy Holiday Card.

I have never written cards on behalf of my children. I got cards, said "do you want to write any" and they did some. We probably got cards from people we didn't return one to. We may have sent cards to people we didn't get one back from.

Who cares? Do people really check? Am I on a blacklist somewhere?