To beg please please don't do this at a school event

[poopsqueak]

Just come back from a lovely school picnic in honour of Jo Cox.

It seems that at event after event (plays, concerts, picnics) this same thing keeps on happening.

It's about viewing etiquette. (All four things happened yesterday while I was trying to see my DD sing with he ks1 choir)

That you;

A) Don't push to the front with your toddler on hip and walk back and forth in front of the choir so the 'baby can see' (yes your baby can see, but no one else can- how about standing at the side at the front or stand stil?)
B) push to the front and stand up with your iPad blocking all the people sitting behind you
C) laugh and chat loudly with your friends because your child in ks2 choir finished singing 10 mins ago (this one in particularly pissed me off because some of the children were reception age and were clearly nervous
D) if you are a 6'5 man standing where people couldn't get a seat, don't stand right at the front where everybody else can't see.

It seems to happen every event. At dds nativity a mum sat on the front row with her parka hood up then tutted at my mum who was sat behind when she asked her to put it down so people could see past

Oh Bing - that's dreadful, how could anyone be so cruel? When DD was little, they used to wait for their classmate or go back and hold his hand and walk with him to the finish line. Apart from in Y6, when they all stood chanting his name and cheering him on because he said he wanted to do it by himself to show his mum he could. I was in tears watching.

I don't know why schools don't record the rehearsal and share those on their whstsApp/Fb pages and then have a blanket ban on filming/photography. Would be nice for parents who can't make it as well as they could see their little ones

wax all of the others could involve a man just as easily - men have toddlers or hold up i pads and talk to people too! My best female friend is 6'3" but she is a nice person so wouldn't stand in front of others. And we consider her need for space at other time - Like when three of us shared a cabin on a ferry and we made sure she had the only bed she could sit up in.

Ours is in church we always get stuck behind a blooming column. Someone said to us after a xmas concert your sons solo in the choir was amazing, well they were lucky to see it!!!

I'm surprised they are allowed ipads and to film, all our schools wouldn't allow it along with photo's.
have a word with the school OP, one year one of my dc schools banned toddlers because they made too much noise the previous year.
My dh is very tall and won't even sit on a seat near the front, let alone stand.
The tall people were either asked to stand or sit at the back as well.
Sounds like they need to set some rules for later events.

Our school does point out about the i pads and toddlers at the beginning of any event. But having to tell people not to natter through it or block people's view probably doesn't occur to them as it's so obvious.

I can't believe schools would rather leave out at-risk children than tell parents to put the phones away

Ive had to sign forms saying Im happy for my kids to be photographed by the school -assumed this was standard practice?

Even with that though, the head does stand up at the beginning of each performance and ask parents not to video / take pics, and not to put anything on social media. She's a bit of a Miss Trunchbowl type though so people do fall into line.

Must admit DD’s school is good for things like this. At a recent event where a dance was performed we were told;

1- If you’re filming then please stand at the back
2- younger siblings to be sat on laps and not running around. If they become unsettled then parents to take them out.
3 - the dance will be performed twice. First time feel free to film. Second time all mobiles/iPads to be put away.

I thought it was brilliant as I always film for DH who can’t attend but this way I could watch it properly the second time.

Siblings being allowed to spoil the show for others as their parents think it’s cute

One little pickle last year decided they wanted to climb the stage steps ok it was funny for a few seconds but when it’s repeated and then the mum tires to reason with little pickle it isn’t funny it’s annoying and unfair on the pupils who have spent hours rehearsing their lines

No obe thinks your child is as cute as you do get over it

By coincidence I have just had the e-mail from DD2's school about this year's play.
No children or babies to either afternoon or evening performances. At all.
They are allowed at the dress rehearsal though.

Finally, common sense has seen the light of day!

Now all we need is to extend it to assemblies and we will actually be able to hear the children and not little Cyril running riot.