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.

But these pupils who've been doing all the hard work and stuff, it's their parents and their siblings who they want to be there. We're still talking very small children here. Sometimes it's toddler making a few audible comments at the back vs 4 yr old wailing onstage because they can't see daddy.

I dont think its unreasonable to take your younger siblings to the performance, I always have, but if they are really playing up then the reasonable thing is to take them out for a break.

YABVU. Surely it's just primary school children squawking so what do a few toddlers make a difference? Why should other parents miss out on their children's performance just to make you comfortable because you chose not to have younger children? It's a nativity FFS not Macbeth. Get over yourself!

You need to get over yourself and learn good manners.

Your child is not the centre of the universe the others matter just as much. If you can't control your toddler then don't come. Very selfish to let the toddler ruin it for the children who have worked so hard.

There's always "one of those parents". This time it's you.

toddlers make a massive difference when they cry all the way through or run up.on stage.

Dds one the head had to send out emails after requesting that people remove their children of they start causing a disturbance.

but this was after parents allowed theirs to stand on a chair crying the whole time.

I took DD2. I took snacks and I sat somewhere I could do a runner if I needed too.

There are a couple of incredibly shy kids in Dds class.

and two of the tiniest quietest girls got up and sang together drowned out by said toddler. The looks on their faces said it all

All the school plays I've been to the head of the school has said the same thing and if a parent hasn't taken a child out if they've been making a lot of noise a teacher has gone up to them and asked them to go out into the corridor.

Yanbu and I have 5DC,it's unfair on the children that are on stage as it distracts them.

I was at my daughters play last night..it was key stage 2. It was a nightmare with at least a dozen smaller kids talking crying and roaming around. I had 2 kids behind me who wete arguing woth each other and kicking and pushing my chair. They both received the death stare and i told their mother to sort them out. This is my 19th year of christmas plays and i always took my younger children out if they were playing up..its not fair on the performers.My daughter for the 1st time had a speaking part and was very nervous and i struggled to hear her. The head ended up asking 3 parents to remove their children. They went of muttering they were not happy and its not their fault!

I can't believe how many selfish, entitled people there are on this thread. It's common curtesy to remove a noisy baby/toddler! I can't get my head around people thinking it's ok to just sit there, so they get to see their child, whilst spoiling the show for every other parent.
Get a sodding grip a packet of chocolate buttons or some other bribe and if that fails move your arse and step outside!

It's not ideal, although I can't get worked up about it.

People who proudly state they go up to toddlers and make sarcastic digs about their noise though. ..cringe!

There's always "one of those parents". This time it's you

Right. Except my DD is an only child and her nativity was full of screaming kids performing on the stage. Because generally nativities produce blubbing children.

the OPs child is also not centre of the universe. The toddler-clad parents have a right to see their kids perform.
And those saying that people with crying toddlers should leave because it disturbs most of the other parents, I guess it makes the issue a numbers game then? So if there were 20 parents, and 15 had screaming toddlers, should the other 5 leave?

Im not saying that is right just pointing out there's a flaw in the logic

The letters announcing our school play this year were very clear - no children or babies of under school age will be admitted, so please don't turn up with one or you'll be denied entry.

Perfectly sensible to me. I think all schools should do it then the problem is solved.

the primary purpose of a school production is to provide an educational opportunity for the children taking part, it is not to provide entertainment or photo opportunities for their families.

The toddler-clad parents have a right to see their kids perform.

Then they need to control their toddlers or leave them at home.

So if there were 20 parents, and 15 had screaming toddlers, should the other 5 leave?

There should never be 15 screaming toddlers. Any parent with manners and consideration for others would leave as soon as toddler started screaming.

If kids are blabbing on stage. It's because they are frightened and nervous and exhausted from.the sheer effort of it all. and crashing from the Over excitement.

Surely that would provoke a more thoughtful Considerate response by making it as calm and relaxed in yr audience as possible.

not just say sod it "if you can't beat them, join them"

'The toddler-clad parents have a right to see their kids perform.'

It's why we teach Rights and Responsibilities in tandem in school.
Because far too many are aware of their rights without giving a flying fuck about any responsibilities.
The right to see your child perform, the responsibility to ensure that the performance is not harmed by your conduct, or those you are supposed to be responsible for.

My toddler had a meltdown last year And I took him straight out of the hall, no messing around.

This year a little boy was sick right behind us he clearly had a sick bug and it stunk!! The mum took him out then bought him back in and he was sick again, now that is bloody selfish the whole hall stunk!!

I take my toddler DD to see my boys in their assemblies and plays, and she seems to understand she has to be quiet. I take toys and books and snacks for her, and I sit at the very edge where I can whip her out of the hall if necessary, so far I've never had to.
I fully intend on taking DD with me to all future assemblies and plays. Mainly because her brothers love to have her there, and would be really sad if she wasn't. I organised a babysitter for one assembly and had to cancel it as DS was crying because she'd miss his speaking role.
I don't mind a bit of noise from other babies/toddlers, especially when they get all excited because they've seen their sibling, but if you let your baby scream all the way through the play then you are selfish!
An excited "Hello DBro/DSis" is one thing, a screaming child all the way through is quite another.

Fortunately at my school most parents seem to accept this unwritten rule and several have watched from out side the hall instead while their baby/toddler roams up and down the corridor (supervised obviously) Or take a friend that can take baby/toddler out so that the parent can still see the play.

We are not allowed to film anything at our school for obvious reasons, (there are photo ops after big assemblies or plays though) so if I don't go because of DD, I miss it completely! I don't see why I should.

'The toddler-clad parents have a right to see their kids perform.'

says who?

'generally nativities produce blubbing children'
Really? I have had a child involved in school nativities every year for the past 16 years and never once seen a child crying on stage.
I would wonder why it is teh case at your school?

YANBU.

We have just had this. I did go to the younger children friendly performance because I have a 3 year old, who didnt make a sound despite getting bored good old bowling on phone. But there were a few who were screaming and you couldn't hear the children on stage despite me being sat at the front. I couldn't sit there knowin my child was making that much of a disturbance. You could tell the children in the play were bothered too and they do put a lot of effort in so I think it is a shame for them.

Our school also films it. When there is only the rest of the school watching so it's quiet. We also have no children under secondary age performances but that doesn't stop some taking g their young child and the school don't say anything.

I'm also a little baffled at the amount of people who think toddlers behaviour can be controlled.

Charming IsChippy, I think you've lost the argument right there.

It can be managed to an extent though surely?

you don't let them. run riot at home. With no attempt to stop them do you?

you can't make them.be totally still and quiet but no one's asking for that.

Just not to run around and scream/cry.

Toddlers can be prevented from disturbing the performers by being taken out of the hall. And yes I've had toddlers at events and done this. Why wouldn't I?