FFS just seen a text instructing my dc to 'be spotty and bake a cake' on Friday

[stripystars]

It came earlier today, not that it would have helped had I seen it earlier. So that's 2.5 days notice to come up with a costume. They have nothing spotty (stripes we have aplenty but no spots). I work f/t and we don't get in until 6 both nights and ds has cubs on one of the nights too. I also have work to do once they are in bed.

Why do schools fucking do this? It's hard enough, especially when you work and are a lp. Happy to support charities, but no time to conjure up spots and cakes midweek.

We had this for yesterday, email went out late on Friday, I covered a normal tee with circle stickers.

Buy cakes, plain fairy cakes plus icing is technically homemade Failing that chocolate cornflake cakes!

The other thing you can do if you can't get any spotty stickers is to cut basic splodges spots out of duct or insulating etc tape - doesn't take long and they have the advantage of sticking well, not running if they get wet and peeling off easily once you want them to.

I happened to be at a B&q one sale time and they were clearing out assorted duct tape and insulating tape in lots of colours. I managed to stock up in a variety of colours and widths for a fiver. It's amazing how versatile duct etc tape is when it comes to making school costumes at the last minute!

Marker pen spots on an old white t shirt, that's what I have done several times.

We've told our children spots OR stripes, this time, so most people will have something, even if it's just spotty or stripy socks.

Please, don't buy expensive dressing up things for any school event!

All superheroes need is bit of material( shawl,large scarf?) to tie around them as a cloak. Pirates need a headscarf.Victorians- just cut ragged edges on an old pair of trousers. Greeks/Romans an old adult t shirt with a bit of string tied around the waist. It really doesn't need to be elaborate! It's just meant to be a bit of fun!

Ours is spotty or a onesie. However, they also announced two MORE non uniform days, both in November! Oh, and both with "donations" of course.

A few things in defence of schools. We have all our dates to do with learning, assessment, training, meetings set in advance- like someone compaired to their board meetings- you know, the actual job of the school that most parents don't see any of. Then, on top of the 60-70 hr week that the average teacher is doing, we try to fit in things like this to 1) raise money for charity 2) make school more fun than endless tests the government demand 3) teach children the importance of charity.

It hadn't been planned months in advance as it usually takes a volunteer/pta member to sort it and they've just finished organising the Halloween disco/harvest collection/ remembrance day assembly/ started the nativity shite.

Speak to a lot of teachers and they'll usually say, "Oh no! Dressing up day on Friday- may as well cancel the lessons I've planned as the kids will all be crazy"

As for expectations from school. I expect the following from my class: 5 in normal uniform, 10 in own clothes (no theme), 5 in spotty-ish t-shirt (Primark,George, etc) and jeans, 3 made outfits (probably jeans and a white t-shirt with spots drawn on). No child without a spotty outfit will be commented on in any way. If we'd asked for cakes too, I'd be saying a huge thank you to 5 children (and their parents) who brought something in - one would be home baked, the other 4 value range cakes.

Don't get me wrong, I can totally see why parents hate it, especially the short notice- we'd love nothing more than time to plan these things well in advance (and I'm sure there's some fab -well funded- schools with the admin staff to do this). However, most of the time we're completely bogged down with the day-to-day teaching/planning/marking. But I would only ever voice how much I bloody hate non-uniform days anonymous online cuz otherwise I sound like an uncharitable, moaning teacher in real life too

Duct tape is genius! Leave the cake OP.

We have Christmas jumper day next month too. I don't see why we should have to spend £10-15 per child or so for a cheap jumper, made by people working in goodness knows what conditions, all so we can contribute £2 per child to the charity. Consumerism gorn mad. We've done stuff with tinsel in the past or just worn red/green but the kids don't want to be the odd ones out again.

Re: Christmas jumpers

I noticed Poundland have a kit to DIY tat up your own jumper with seasonal naff stickers. Price? £1.

Children in Need - ours are just wear what you like for £1 donation, as long as it's safe and sensible for school. Cakes are (over)decorated in class by small children - those cheap Tesco one. A few parents send some in and the oldest class make something. Really not worth stressing over.

I wouldn't mind if ours was spotty non uniform ( would white tshirts and Sharpies) but no, it's normal uniform with spotty accessories. FFS. Am hoping that DH has two spotty ties which they can wear with their polo shirt/jumper combo.

Completely agree OP.

Expectations upon parents alone are too much , never mind the children.

With homework, costumes, baking days, wanting help with trips & swimming, reading 5 times a week, spelling and times tables weekly , topic homework weekly , Christmas jumpers, etc etc it really stresses me out.

We used old t shirts and felt tip pens, colouring spots on it. Children each did their own.

Ds has to design his own T-shirt which he then has to make. This means we have go out and buy a plain white T-shirt (they only seem to come in packs of 3) for him to wreck draw his design on with a few sharpies.

All I can add is don't use Maybeline 24hour lipstick to apply spots to faces. It lasts much MUCH longer than 24 hours.

How I loathe non-uniform days, especially the ones with a theme. I'm actually sick of the whole fundraising thing too - just gives kids the impression they are doing something worthwhile by wearing a coloured t-shirt and taking in a pound for their parents. I'd rather they just wore uniform and did some work.

I did the DIY method with the crayola toddler/ round nibbed felt pens, they washed out completely on a white shirt.

It's all very well saying 'You know the date. It shouldn't come as a surprise'.

Yes we do.
Private school, so nice wizzy calendar to upload to your ipad/phone/android.

BUT that really doesn't help when you've bought a new onesie, new slippers, yadda yadda then get an email tonight with 'the details'. This year, spotty jumpers. The girls are hugely disappointed (they've been planning their onesies & slippers since going back to school). They're year 6, but ALL of them WANT to wear their PJ's. They want to be kids. They've always worn PJ's in year 6.

I'm not blaming the teachers or the admin or anyone really - just arghhhhhhh

What's the point of putting the date in a school calendar months in advance if they sit on the theme until 2 days before?

We have international day on Thursday. They want dd to dress up in her traditional outfit which has got me stumped. She will probably just go in an Ireland jersey and long tee underneath.

I'm worried now about a spotty theme for Friday I've heard nothing about!

Honestly, my blood pressure is much better since I stopped asking "how high?" every time the school sends a text telling me to "jump!" tomorrow. It's supposed to be education for our chidren that matters, not mission impossible for parents (invariably the Mums, in practice).

Yes I only got the letter after school
Yesterday re the spotty theme. Dd does have a t shirt with spots on the back as it happens.

However there is no way she wouldn't dress up on Friday as she gets really anxious and upset if she thinks she's not doing something properly. Maybe some children wouldn't mind but we would have a nightmare if I said don't worry, just wear anything.

I don't think teachers understand how important things like this are to some children.

Mine were asked to wear spotty clothes. Told yesterday .

I've bought a packet of dot stickers to plonk on their tops.

I ignore requests for cakes these days. There's always a surplus at cake sales anyway.

We have a stash of white t shirts and a pair of black and white leggings. We draw things on the t shirts that are relevant for whatever theme with normal felt tips then I wash them and it seems to come out each time. Rainbow day, spotty day, character from favourite poem, character from favourite book... I don't want 20 kids costumes hanging around for the sake of 1 day! My dd always seems happy with this.

I've bought the CiN headband from Asda for £3.50. Ordinary clothes (don't have anything spotty).

Re the cakes, dd's school don't allow home made for health and safety reasons (thank god.)

I'm a sahm and both dc are at school now. The amount of time I seem to spend on finding costumes is getting ridiculous. I'd love just one week of 'normal' school so no dressing up, bring in a pound, bake something etc! I don't know how working parents manage it all. I don't remember my mum having to deal with all this stuff!

Mine have to wear 80's clothes on Friday. Wtf. I've got a 10yo an a 4yo, both boys. Luckily they're not arsed so I'm just sending them in normal clothes but otherwise I'd have to go out and buy something.