AIBU to think that parents (/carers) should have priority seat at Nativity Plays?

[mrsjanedoe]

Most preschools/ nurseries invite families to see their little ones perform their Nativity Plays. It's lovely.

Of course, every parents would like to be able to see their own children. Would it be unreasonable to let them seat at the front, whilst the rest of the family goes a bit further back? It's perfectly fine for a couple to attend, with 2 sets of grand-parents, uncles, aunties, cousins if they wish but then you see a single parent left at the back.

I don't think it's fair. Thankfully local parents are quite gracious, so no arguments or shoving to get the best seat around here, but reserving 1 or 2 seat with the kids name would be great (you chose who seats where among yourselves and the rest of the family can seat further).

AIBU?

We're only allowed 2 tickets per child too, spare ones are allocated nearer the time if anyone wants to bring extras, it's due to numbers and fire regulations I believe a shame the same fire regulations dont apply in the mornings when they want you to take your child into the classroom to do a 'morning job' and the whole school is stuffed like sardines with parents,siblings etc but that's another thread!

It's a lot of work already for the school and not that important in the scheme of things. Each kid gets about one line each, blink and you might miss it anyway.

I went to watch my nieces in their nativity many years ago. A mum of another child was livid at the lack of professionalism, and very vocal about it. We were and at the fuss she was making.

Mind you, her child is quite a well-known movie actor now, so maybe it was we who should have been taking it all a bit more seriously.

And filming is banned at our school too but they always thank the kind parent mr so and so who 'professionally' films it for them and then the school sell dvds for a fiver each for him!

Agree with pp who say get there early if you want a good seat. My DD had a performance at the beginning of October and I was 5 days overdue with my son - I got a seat (someone got up for me) but It was at the back and i certainly didn't expect a good seat because I was late... DD still saw me and that's all that matters x

Ann, spill the beans about the child actor!

OP, I can see why you would be frustrated but it would be far too much hassle for the school to do organised seating. Staff just don't have the time on top of everything else they do.

I'm not too fussed where I sit. But I agree with the pp up thread all filming should be banned, especially in iPads.

I am not specially frustrated or upset, I just felt a bit sorry for someone relegated at the back because the front rows are taken by one child family only.

(and again, for the very little ones, we are asked NOT to arrive early, the doors are not opened but the kids see you arriving and want to come and see you!)

But fair enough, you are all right, the Ipads are a worst issue. It would be a shame to ban everything though, I am happy to record (from my phone) to show their dad what he missed (or what I missed if I was in another school). After that, who ever watch these films again?

I never said the plays are a bid deals, I just want a smile on my kids face because they see me.

I go in last and sit on the floor in front of the first row of seats.

Viola you are my hero

People should be able to use their common sense on these occasions.

1. Do not send a couple of relatives early to hog the entire front row with bags and scarves, so that you can trot in at the last minute and have prime seats waiting for you.

1. If you are bringing granny and granddad and aunty Joan and Uncle Roger and granny's friend Edna and cousin Sarah do the decent thing and leave the front row for some of the parents.

1. Bring younger children outside if they start wailing or shouting or running around.

1. Don't keep standing up to take photographs, blocking the view of everyone behind you.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of twats around

Blimey, it sounds like there are parents who make more of a pantomime out of this than the children.

First come first served. Get there early if it matters so much.

When I had primary school age children I can't say I was really all that bothered where I sat. My kids certainly never cared either. It was usually only me who could go anyway.

No such kerfuffing now, as my youngest is in year 9 now, so nativities are a thing of the past for us.

Totakly agree! At my DS's school (1 class for each year) when there sre assemblies for us to attend, i never understand why the head doesnt say the order children will be performing (nursery, then year 1, 2, 3 etc) so that the nursery parents can stand at the front first then make way for the year 1 parents! Often you end up just lurking around behind the tall mums and dads standing right at the front !

We have 60 Reception children.

Who gets the front seats?

My dc schools always operated first come first served.
So if the nativity was 10am we used to go to the most local of our friends and go back about 9.30 and get front row seats.
People used to complain, but they weren't willing to stand/sit and wait like others were.

Last year i arrived 15 mins before the start but all the seats were already taken. PTA lady had blocked the front row for 7 family members. I had to stand at the back but couldn't see dc due to strategically placed ipad recording throughout the performance.

Paid for preallocated seats this year, two per child, more sold only if available after all parents have been offered 2.

Yanbu op.

We get to 'order' two seats on a first come, first served basis. Then any tickets not sold by a certain date are available to buy for whoever wants them. Seats are not allocated, you just arrive as early as possible to try to get a good seat. I recommend an hour before performance

I do think that if you're going to film the entire thing you should sit/stand at the back. Or the sides.

If you're going to take pictures, do so quickly, without bobbing up every ten seconds.

And if you have to take a toddler-sized person, don't stand them on your lap. Their heads aren't see-through.

I've solved the problem by always standing at the back, right behind the middle of the back row. Better to get tired legs than whiplash from trying to peer around the tablets, phones, hats, bobbers, small children etc etc...

Actually I remember getting a frantic phone call once from the nursery school head. Ds2 had decided he didn't want to be 'Jovis' (Joseph) any more and was having a little tantrum.

I duly trotted along and soothed the little artiste. As a reward for so doing, I was given a seat in the front row, middle. Prime position.

Oooh I did get some evil looks from those parents who steamed to the front like starving patrons at an all-you-can-eat buffet...

3 tickets max per child here. We went half an hour early last year and plenty of people were already queuing! Get there very early to bag decent seats. You're often better off for a view actually standing up at the back as a pp said. We also have the blocking view iPad hideousness. Though this year we did get a note asking that younger children who are noisy get taken outside - previously lots of toddler wailing steadfastly ignored by the parents.

DD1's nursery and schools all had a limited amount of tickets per child (I think the max was 4). Current school is 3 but it is a tiny school, and they usually do 3 performances.

We're allowed to film and take pictures so long as nothing is shared on social media, so we do it to show her GGM as she can't always make them.

Everyone filming/taking photos at our school thankfully do so discreetly, so as not to be in the way!

GP were offered a rehersal performance - so it did stop and start a bit. But they really enjoyed it al the same.
I always head for the back.. no head leaning or cameras in the way, nice clear view. (Same family every year at the front)