Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Smile no waving as it will ruin the performance video??!!

87 replies

AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 12/12/2012 07:03

Ds aged 6, very good at reporting things, has told me this morning that when they see us in the school hall they have only to smile and not wave, to their parents.

Bonkers.... Right??

OP posts:
CabbageLeaves · 12/12/2012 07:06

Our children are given 5 mins at beginning of the performance to spot parent and wave furiously. Then ....performance begins and they focus on that which is a great way of handling it

Ragwort · 12/12/2012 07:09

Not bonkers at all, do parents really want to watch and sit their little darlings giggling and waving rather than at least try and put on a performance that they have no doubt been rehearsing for weeks? Whilst you may enjoy indulging your precious child by waving back, to have 30 plus children waving at their parents is beyond tedious delighted that my DS is finally past the age of primary school performances

AllSnowballsAndNoKnickers · 12/12/2012 07:15

Firstly - what Ragwort said. Secondly - if you seriously think your 6 year old is always going to provide a completely accurate and true account of what's going on you are a little deluded.

Sirzy · 12/12/2012 07:20

I agree with ragwort. It's sensible to encourage them not to make a fuss when they spot people they know.

bradyismyfavouritewiseman · 12/12/2012 07:24

Sounds sensible to me. That's what they are there for, not as an observed waving.
And I am sure your 6 years old is very accurate at reporting all things.

armedtotheteeth · 12/12/2012 07:26

Sounds sensible to me.

FlojoHoHoHo · 12/12/2012 07:27

What NoKnicks said

ladyintheradiator · 12/12/2012 07:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CabbageLeaves · 12/12/2012 07:37

It's joyless attending and watching 200 kids wave for 30 mins

I'd much rather see them perform what has taken ages for them to rehearse

FBworry · 12/12/2012 07:40

Whats happens if they slip up and accidentally burst into a wave?

Original poster
AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 12/12/2012 07:50

Well its true, (been confirmed by ither parents also) of course id rather see him act, rather than constantly wave / ruin the production.

However he has been told specifically that no waving has to be done at all, not even on entering and seeing us.

To me it just doesn't sit right, in the morning session they can wave but the afternoon session is being filmed and no wavig to be done at all.

To me its just bonkers!!

OP posts:
Original poster
AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 12/12/2012 07:54

Not that is think my child would ruin a performance either tbh, he just not the sort of kid!!!

Where did I say that I think he always provides accurate information also, I said he's good at reporting things fact fully.

Don't you just love the scar ism comments in here hmm

OP posts:
JeezyOrangePips · 12/12/2012 07:55

Why is it bonkers? It makes sense to me.

DumSpiroSperHoHoHo · 12/12/2012 07:56

Schools are fully of weird rules - goes with the territory.

Do you not see the children at the end?

They always organise our school events so the kids get 5-10 minutes with their parent/carer after the performance stuffing mince pies and choccie biscuits

crazygracieuk · 12/12/2012 07:56

Ds2 is the same age and was told this.

The video performance has no parents there so nobody to wave to really. I think it's more likely that the children might chat to the person they are sitting next to, pick their nose or look bored.

valiumredhead · 12/12/2012 07:57

Ds's school always let the kids wave for 5 mins and then settle down to the performance.

crazygracieuk · 12/12/2012 07:58

When a teacher or TA is taking photos during the day I would have thought that they prefer the children to try and forget about the camera and just do what they are supposed to. What I mean is they are probably used to being photographed/filmed without posing.

Original poster
AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 12/12/2012 07:59

I don't know really I just think its OTT, ds said if he waves he will lose his golden time.

To me children waving , making faces, falls of the stage, as i spectacular did makes the performance better and real than a over produced performance, where the children are all stoney faced.

OP posts:
JeezyOrangePips · 12/12/2012 08:02

Somehow I doubt it will be 'over-produced'.

If it bothers you that much, go to the earlier performance.

Original poster
AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 12/12/2012 08:04

unfortunately no can do, ds2 has a hospital appointment

OP posts:
CaseyShraeger · 12/12/2012 08:09

But they've been specifically told that they CAN look at you and smile, yes? "Stoney faced" doesn't sound likely to be a problem, then.

JeezyOrangePips · 12/12/2012 08:21

Well, if I was watching a film of my child performing, I'd rather they all did what they were supposed to instead of having one or two continually waving at family.

And there usually is one or two that wave every time they arent speaking.

I think it makes sense. Somehow though, I suspect it won't matter what anyone says, the op had made her mind up about this before she asked the question.

DixieD · 12/12/2012 08:21

I agree with you OP. I'm not even a big fan of children in general but I like to see kids acting like kids in these things. Waving at inappropriate times, holding conversations with each other, staring around in a trance. It makes is more fun to see them being themselves and enjoying it and being relaxed, instead of concentrating really hard on producing a 'correct' performance. When you look back at old recordings of these shows it'll be the madly waving kids, messing up their lines that make you smile more then a perfect recietal of the script from start to finish.

AllYoursJingleBellbooshka · 12/12/2012 08:24

I adore that moment when a child spots their parents/family. Seeing their little faces light up and them waving excitedly is one of the best parts of these little productions.

The school sound like overly serious kill joys, they are 5 and 6 year olds for goodness sake!

They will have worked hard on this and should be able to enjoy themselves.

JeezyOrangePips · 12/12/2012 08:26

All they have been asked to do is smile instead of wave. I'm sure there will still be plenty of fluffed lines and giggles and kids being kids. Not waving won't change that.