to want to watch the Nativity play without toddlers screaming.

[windchime]

Another Christmas, another Nativity play, and another hour of sitting in the school hall listening to the screams and shouts of strangers' toddlers. Before the play started, the Head asked nicely if upset babies and toddlers could be taken outside because the children and staff had worked so hard on the play. But, of course, the play was totally ruined for everyone because of a few inconsiderate, ignorant and selfish parents NOT taking their child outside when they started (and continued) playing up. The school was filming it to sell as a dvd. Good luck with that.

Toddlers should be kept quiet and under control. Please don't let your young children wander onto the stage, or make loud noises. Choose seats where one can leave quickly for a walk or similar if they create a disturbance . This is fair to everyone, and also applies to restaurants. Toddlers create entropy.

YANBU

We have an evening performance where under 7's aren't allowed in and an afternoon one when little ones can go.

I just wish they did a nativity. Their school won't allow them anymore so we have Peter Pan this year.

No one's expecting silence. or saying any noise is unacceptable.

can you honestly say a dull blown toddler tantrum with screaming and shouting so loud the kids can't be heard or forget their lines is ok?

repeat. A bit of general cm background noise fine. But we are talking full on screaming

I don't understand why they don't have a siblings welcome performance and a non sibs one. Works great at our school although parents are still expected to take noisy kids out even in the sibs welcome one.

Ha ha - we wrote to parents one year asking that toddlers either not be brought or be taken out. Parents reported us to the local press and ran a facebook campaign against us. We love parents

'If there is one place in the universe you expect kids (of all ages) it's at a school!'

Yes, behaving themselves rather than running riot, yelling and actively participating in someone else's performance.

I agree that sarky comments to the toddler were uncalled for, but presumably they were too young to take it as anything other than a compliment
'Yes, I was the star turn and everyone looked at me. happy, happy happy'

I bet it was very noisy in the first nativity

All those animals, people and that pesky newborn

Most the animals I met were better behaved than parents at a school thing

I went to watch my dc in the nativity and left my toddler at home with my mum. He wouldn't sit still and be quiet and nor should he so better for everyone he stayed home.. win win though I appreciate not everyone has someone to watch their children

My DDs' school always had two performances, one with toddlers, the other adults only. When my youngest was finally in school and I could go to the adults only performance, I was thrilled. My thrill was shirt lived though. Every year there were at least a couple if Mums who brought their toddlers to the adults only performance as it was more convenient. It's annoying, but I think you just have to "roll with it," and take it all in good grace.

maninawomansworld, and because its in a school the people on stage are also children, often very young ones, who are easily out off by unnecessary distractions like screaming kids. A little noise is to be expected but if a baby is screaming they need to go out. It's not fair on anyone, but particularly the children on stage.

YANBU

A little background noise is one thing; full on tantrums/long bouts of crying/running around is not on, and demonstrates utter selfishness and lack of concern or consideration for other attendees. If your child is one of the ones doing the above take them out - they're not cute, they are PITA (and I speak as a parent who had less than 2 years between DC1 and 2, and no babysitter)

The schools I work in allow children under 5 at the dress rehearsal but no children under 5 are allowed in for the actual performance. It works well and gives everyone a chance to attend.

You need our scary head. She taps offending parents of screaming babies/toddlers and tells them to go outside. She also stopped a play once to tell chatting parents to be quiet. Had no problems for couple of years now

Yanbu. Our primary has banned children from evening performances.

They do a morning one which they are welcome to attend with parents etc. preschool attend too. For parents who don't have evening childcare and can't make the morning performance, most have one parent attend one night and the other the following night.

Ours does two performances - one adults-only and one for pre-schoolers. Perhaps other schools would be open to that suggestion if somebody, er, suggested it to them?

I was at our nativity today and DD is a nervous little thing and has practiced very hard for the past month to be able to say her lines and when she had to deliver them she was entirely drowned out by a toddler in the audience.

I was really sad for her but I guess I can buy the DVD.

My ds's school has a crèche run by PTA & teaching assistants, He's in infant school but ds2 is in junior school and they have no crèche and allow younger siblings.

To all those who think it's their right to sit right through a performance making no attempt to hush their tantrumming toddler, I presume you won't show your faces on here in due course complaining that your older child's one precious line that they'd been working up to for weeks was totally inaudible due to someone else's toddler kicking off.

The level of selfishness on here astounds me.

"'If there is one place in the universe you expect kids (of all ages) it's at a school!'"
Er no, actually, schools run for ages 4 (if Nursery) and up. Not babies and toddlers.

I'm sure she'll get over it.

It's a primary nativity people, not the first night of les mis. Chill!

Get over it?

Do you have any idea what it can be an to a small child.

It's not just a line. It's weeks of learning and hard work and plucking up.the courage to get on that stage and say their line.

Can mean

'It's a primary nativity people, not the first night of les mis. Chill!'

Yup, so take the noisy individual out, you won't be missing anything classic.
In fact, why not stay at home and play with them instead?
What is it with the Les Mis references? No one enjoys Chekov or Ibsen?

Yeah, and you're job is to provide reassurance and praise and help her get over the fact there was a noise when she spoke. It's hardly her fault. You help her get over it.