To boycott the school Christmas jumper day?

[TheBigBumTheory]

I've just heard the glad tidings that our PTA has decreed that every child shall report to school on a certain date wearing a jumper that can only be worn for a few weeks a year and will not fit them next year. Oh and bring a pound to take part.

I am fairly anticonsumerist and dcs will not be taking part, I will happily donate cakes/chocolate to the Christmas fair and support the pta in other ways.

We have just ignored the superhero day for much the same reason-total waste of money for sweat shop outfits made of plastic materials.
We will donate to Children in Need.

Bah bloody humbug

YANBU.
What's with all the dressing up in landfill-destined crap these days?

I suppose you could attach some Xmas decorations to a normal jumper, though.

Or you could tack some tinsel onto a normal jumper and enter into the spirit of things?

PTA events are optional, don't join in if you don't want to but others may find it fun. There's no pleasing everyone.

I think attaching some decorations is a great idea. It would have annoyed me as a suggestion too.

Will there be other parents/children not taking part? I only ask because I wouldn't want my children to be the only ones not in the jumpers, for their sake. Could you perhaps decorate a jumper with tinsel or something?

I don't think you're being unreasonable, if taking part goes against what you believe in but perhaps you could think of an alternative so your children don't feel left out? (I'm a teacher and I see some children feel left out of things like this or get embarrassed)

Dd says she'll wear an old fairisle style dress ( is now tunic length) as it has snowflakes on, she says it's Christmassy.

Are you in Surrey, I heard a mum and daughter arguing about needing a Christmas by the 22. Felt sorry for the mum as she clearly couldn't afford it

I think it's such a pity to put pressure on people to spend money on this sort of thing, especially so near Christmas when many are stretched financially. No one likes their dcs to stand out for not joining in.

After reading about Claudia W's daughter I think we need to remind ourselves that kids clothes should be as fire retardant as possible . Most dressing up outfits are far from safe .
My dd certainly won't be wearing any highly flammable tat that will end up in land fill as suggested above .
It's all got too much .

I'm not in Surrey!

I feel the same about bought Christmas jumpers BTW, and my heart sank a little when I heard at the PTA meeting this week that our school council has suggested a Christmas jumper day (for which the PTA will probably get the blame, same as we have for superheroes today, also nothing to do with the PTA). But I am going to do the tinsel thing, and we managed two superhero costumes out of normal clothes with just a cat mask that had been bought for hallowe'en, no extra landfill burden created.

What a brilliant idea !
At a time when money is short supply and Christmas is round the corner they want you to buy a jumper and donate one full pound for the privilege of wearing it
I mean come on OP , I bet that was secretly top of your 'must get' list sod buying food

I think they haven't thought this through

Walton, yes that story was horrific.

Go to a charity shop. Buy a jumper. Cut a star out of an old t shirt. Stick it on to the jumper.

Or. Go to a charity shop. Buy a jumper. Stick some tinsel in some appropriate shape on the front.

Or. Go to a charity shop. Buy a jumper. Brush on some diluted glue. Sprinkle it with glitter.

And ffs. The PTA are trying to do something fun. Don't be an arse.

Buy a pack of Christmas sticker and put them all over a top/ jumper.

Why don't you join the PTA if you have any better suggestions?

I quite fancy making a multipurpose jumper to cover all school dress up occasions.

It would have a mixed Halloween/Christmas/superhero/spotty/book character theme.

With tinsel trims.

Very large to fit dc right through school.

I actually prefer making a donation to these sort of things if the money goes to the school rather than a charity.

No one takes it that seriously surely? Normal jumper with something Christmassy pinned on- no problem.

My issue is that many families struggle to keep up with these dress up days for so many reasons, whether being short of time, money or simply not wanting to spend either on buying or making costumes.

I don't think it is about raising money for the PTA, Save the Children are doing a christmas jumper day on 12th December which our school is joining.

DD will joining in, we have a Christmas jumper from last year that still fits (bought big last year) or may buy another and go big again so it will do next year.

In terms of today, DD didn't got as a superhero but just wore a fancy dress outfit that she already had (admittedly she is of the age that she owns such things)

IMHO YABU, it is possible to do these things without wasting money on tat that will end up in the landfill (i.e. the suggestions of adding tinsel to an existing top) and DD loved joining in which sparked a conversation about charity, children in need etc.

My ds's school is doing this on the 12th for save the children. I do agree they'd do better having people donate the £8 I spent on a jumper.

My school has a 'christmas Dress' day - pupils can wear anything from a jumper to a bit of tinsel. That way nobody is victimised by not being able to afford items .... Some of our children from the poorest homes look the best as they makes an effort and are not just wearing the Next jumper!