Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To boycott the school Christmas jumper day?

103 replies

TheBigBumTheory · 14/11/2014 19:15

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

OP posts:
ILovePud · 14/11/2014 22:09

Our school is doing this too, they always seem to theme these things. I'm just going to treat it as an own clothes day and send the kids in dressed in whatever they want to wear. I'm sure they won't feel left out as I'm sure loads of others will not own Christmas jumpers.

TattyDevine · 14/11/2014 22:14

Ours did the same today, but it wasn't the PTA - it was the school, and the money went to Children in Need, not the school, which the PTA raise for.

Yes I did end up spending £30 at Next and a couple of quid per child for my donation, and no I didn't have to as I could have made one but didn't.

It is tricky, there is pressure to not let your child be the only one not participating (my reception aged child reminded me the day before upon collection, by which time I had already bought the jumpers)

PTA get a lot of flack but for Children in Need they make nothing unless they take a cut?

You can pimp up a normal jumper if you have the time or inclination.

YANBU to boycott. Your children may or may not think you are. There is pressure! YANBU to be rolly eyed at this pressure.

Godcreatedcricket · 14/11/2014 22:18

I'm fairly new to MN and have only just worked out what PITA stands for... Chortlesome that's almost the same as PTA

revealall · 14/11/2014 22:37

Mine was the only child in school to be dressed in a super hero costume that was homemade.
Granted at primary most will have some sort of shop costume already but the pressure to have a "good" costume or not bother is worrying.

nochangewanted · 14/11/2014 22:55

Glad you are going to dress jumper up. We haven't got an xmas day jumper day ( unless no letter yet) but I have just bought DS a christmas shirt from Primark. He won't wear a jumper unless he is out in the snow but I bough I size too big so it will last 2 years.

Pilgit · 14/11/2014 22:58

A Christmas jumper is for all year not just for Christmas. .. (okay missed the point).

DillyDallyDaydreamer · 14/11/2014 23:15

I know I sympathise. just got over Halloween or wear something spooky day,did super hero spotty day,then they throw christmas jumper day at you bastards. bet there will be random christmas play costume as well (aliens anyone ? )

waithorse · 15/11/2014 08:21

I hate dressing up day's with a passion, thankfully my dc school rarely bother. I hate even more pj/onesie day. Sad Christmas jumper day, I wouldn't have a problem with though. Even if you don't own a Christmas jumper, a normal jumper is easily adaptable. Few decorations pinned onto a jumper or a bit of tinsel in the hair, anything like that would do. I love a Christmas jumper though. Xmas Grin

Betsy003 · 15/11/2014 08:29

I agree with not buying new off the hook costumes. Seems a of money, the environment and very predictable. I like it when things are hand me downs or ramshackle and thrown together. For children in need all my four wore their best pants over some borrowed leggings.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 15/11/2014 08:30

You need a geordie jumper

Betsy003 · 15/11/2014 08:31

I'd say its 50-50 at our school with half of the kids parents buying costumes.

sleepdodger · 15/11/2014 08:34

You could make not buy- many of the superhero photos I saw yesterday were sheet tied for Cape with made mask and pants over leggings

BogStandardOldWoman · 15/11/2014 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Betsy003 · 15/11/2014 08:38

It shouldn't have been called a Christmas jumper day, it should have just been called a Christmas dress up Day. Would have been more open and therefore more affordable.

We only use what we already own. In your shoes I'd stick a red/green/gold top on and wear tinsel

nochangewanted · 15/11/2014 08:43

We have a dress up day at the end of the year. I can say there is great divide on the playground. Those who moan every year, and either moan about the money of buying a costume or those that make them. I can say for me The best costumes are the handmade ones.

I really want to try and make one this year but may end up in the shops again

Beautifullymixed · 15/11/2014 10:54

One year I sewed lots of xmas decorations to ds8 hoody. Very simple and effective.

He won a prize. Smile

manchestermummy · 15/11/2014 11:01

YANBU at all re dress up days, but don't force your child to adhere to your principles. My mother did this to me at almost every opportunity growing up.

GreenPetal94 · 15/11/2014 11:15

We have a Christmas jumper day at work this year. BUT it specifically suggests that you should make your own by decorating an existing jumper. So that seems like harmless fun.

For my kids I only spend money on clothes they will wear and wear. Although I did buy a £3 black hair spray to complete ds2's homemade superhero outfit. He looked great and he designed and helped make his outfit.

WooWooOwl · 15/11/2014 11:38

I love a Christmas jumper and my dc have been bought them to wear on Christmas Day for the last couple of years, so it's no hardship to send them into school wearing it. I think it's fun, and I have far more tolerance for things like this where parents are asked for money to support their own children's school rather than CIN or another big charity that has far more fundraising power than most PTAs put together. Plus, it's easy to just stick a decoration or some tinsel to a jumper so that children join in, much much better than expecting parents to go and buy super hero costumes.

LapsedTwentysomething · 15/11/2014 14:09

I resent it even though it's not too much of a stretch financially. I've still spent £15 on jumpers for two DC that will not benefit the charity in any way. Schools shouldn't be agreeing to take part IMO.

Bluetone · 15/11/2014 14:10

Just received a letter about this too. It's for Save the Children and titled 'Make the world better with a Christmas sweater'

Donate £1 for wearing a sweater. I like the idea of making one. Dd has one from last year that she was given as a gift though so I don't need to bother.

LapsedTwentysomething · 15/11/2014 14:12

Oh and I doubt that secondary age children would be that chuffed about having to wear a makeshift tinsel jumper while their better off peers wear shop bought ones.

3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole · 15/11/2014 14:13

Everyone needs a festive jumper though

Bluetone · 15/11/2014 14:21

Tesco have loads at the moment. Had a quick look yesterday in store and one for dd was £12 (she's 7)

There is 25% off all knitwear at the moment but still, if you have a few kids to buy for it's bloody expensive.

I went to school assembly yesterday and as it was CIN the kids were to dress as Pudsey and donate £1. At assembly I'd say about 80% of them were in school uniform. It seems people are just refusing to pay for these things every other week at dd's school anyway. Or just don't have time or inclination to rustle up a bear outfit.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 15/11/2014 14:22

DD was the only child in her class on Friday with a home made super hero costume. She went as Batman and had black leggings, charity shop polo neck with a yellow felt Batman logo sewn on. I did buy black fabric to make the cape. Unfortunately I think I've been head hunted for sewing school play costumes now, so it does have it's drawbacks Grin

DD is only 5yo though. However when she's at secondary school, she'll have a choice... an option that fits in with the family budget or she'll have to source and pay for her own costume!