To think the nativity play is a waste of time...

[PointyJat]

And the biggest parts are given to teachers favourites/those with pushy parents?

Ds is in year R and they've spent weeks preparing. He and his friend say they spend lots of time sitting in the hall watching the main parts 'practice'. Teacher has cancelled PE since half term for this 'practice'.

Only a few children have a big part, the rest are varying levels of nothing ds is a 'villager' but doesn't even go on stage, he just sings the songs along with all of the others.

Nativity seems like a waste of time and a lot of waiting about, other than for a minority of pupils. I'd rather either all children got a part with a similar level of input, or they just stopped bothering with the play and did PE as usual. Aibu (and grumpy).

Aw I love going to their little concerts. My youngest is in y2 and she had her heart set on being an elf (for context there are 22 elves think it's the 'leftover' part) and she got the part she wanted haha. I remember my eldest had almighty tantrums at that age because she wanted a proper part which she was lucky enough to get every other year. I guess all children are different but they always wanted me there to see it.

If the confidence and speaking ability of your kids are so paramount why are you waiting all year for the nativity in order to whinge about unfairness? How entitled is that?

Always someone else's fault isn't it?

Take them to a drama club or something if it's so important to you.

Tara,
Yes that did hit a nerve. I come from an area where the majority seem to be SAHP and some of the attitudes I have locally encountered really seem to suggest that we are terrible parents as we both work. Seems as though it ok to have children if you are rich or state supported but not if you're both working. Apologies for the slightly unrelated rant, I'm just being very oversensitive and venting:)

Oh yabu it's lovely even if your son didn't get shepherd number 2 it's fine don't be 1 of those parents who think the teachers pick pta kids you will end up bitter.

In the grand scheme of things do you remember the star shoving the sheep over or Mary saying her lines perfectly?
The sheep was too close to the star apparently.

1 of mine was a star she just had to hold a tinfoil star she kept dropping it on the baby Jesus

Oh I love that mrsjayy

There is nothing sweeter in the world than a KS1/Foundation nativity.

You're assuming that everyone wants a part and is equally confident.
I have 3 kids
ds1 was the child who scowled and refused to sing.
dd was loud, confident and a good reader so got major parts.
ds2 is very shy. He's happy being invisible member of the chorus.

I'll be watching ds2 in a play next week. For him, reciting one line is a huge leap out of his comfort zone and he wouldn't want any more than that.

Nativity plays are just one of those milestones that UK school-educated children share. He will probably be interested to hear about your nativity experience too. Away In a Manger is the song that reminds me most of nativity plays and I really dig the fact that my kids know it too.

I love the nativity play, its only the P1 & 2 who do it and they all have 'a part' if not a speaking part. They are all 'someone'.

I find it strange your school stops PE for weeks, ours doesnt yet still manage to do the play at the school church service.

My kids have been doing this since nursery we have had all sorts of parts from inkeeper, to Angel Gabriel, to sheep amd shepherds, they didnt care they just loved the fun of it. Even now they are too old to do it my youngest and the other older kids do the storytelling and singing.

Even though we arent religious there is something about the Nativity play gets me every time The church is freezing, the kids are always late, (they walk to the church) you cant always see your child when they sing the carols but I wouldnt miss it for the world Plus we all go back to the school for coffee and mince pies. Whats not to like?

My dd is in reception. They pulled the name of Mary and Joseph out of a hat. Others were given choices based on speaking amounts. DD is very excited. Yabu

I'm with the OP I'm afraid....it's absolutely marvellous for the kids who are chosen for the best parts, for whatever reason, whether it be because they are confident, learn their lines better than anyone else or just simply the teachers favourite....but excruciating for those who don't get picked and have to sit for hours and hours watching the main parts getting all the attention etc...when they get to walk on and off stage for two seconds and that's it....also excruciating for the parents of these non part children having to watch the same loud and annoying kids every year for five years on the trot, because they get chosen every b**y year....just wish they would do a carol service instead, then it's even Stevens....the only ones winning here are those with loud kids.

i love the nativity, to all the teachers making them happen and working so hard.

Just wait till you've had to watch it ten times and the same kids over and over

An I the only one who only sees my own children?

Be they the arse end of a donkey or not.

How on earth does a nativity play last for hours and hours? Ours is over in 3/4 hr tops including the service!

YANBU to be annoyed that your school has cancelled PE in favour of nativity rehearsals since half term!!

At our school, every child has a roughly equal part compared with the other children in their year. The top year (year 3) have the speaking roles and the younger ones do lots of singing and dancing. Rehearsals take place in normal music and dance lessons during school hours. No need to take the place of other lessons except for 1 dress rehearsal the day before. It sounds like your school could improve rehearsal organisation. The children shouldn't need to miss a whole half term of PE.

But YA probably being U about teachers picking favourites. They will surely pick those children most able for the roles. They are just trying to put on the best play they can.

DTs nursery is a montesorri and they rehearse letting every child take a turn at any part they want in the few weeks before christmas. Then on the day they chose the children. Which is lovely and so sweet. And they all mouth along to the words and tell each other what to do. But obviously only works for 3/4 yos who have no clue! It does make for a supremely relaxing environment. My MIL HATES it (former reception teacher of the old-school type).

I love it. They give the main parts to the children who can cope with the enormity of it............ Get a grip OP, the children get loads out of it and most love practising the songs over and over and over again. Maybe next year your little precious will have the starting role then someone else will start a thread moaning about that................

And just for the record neither of mine have had main parts in school productions and haven't batted an eyelid.

I heard a mother outside school once saying I didn't want mine to end up playing a sheep or something!

I don't think thats the case at dd3's school, shes in juniors now and doesn't do one anymore.

I think they are lovely.

God, who gives a shit what part their 5 year olds are in the nativity? Bit pushy yourself much?!

YABU - nativity is so cute and they all love shuffling around onstage and mumbling/shouting

my dd is a star who only sings and has been for the last year, I still love it, also love watching the other kids who have the bigger parts, yabu and a bit bar humbug