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AIBU?

To object to Christmas jumper day?

224 replies

Drummingisfun · 18/10/2018 14:03

DS school have already put on the calendar that they are doing Christmas jumper day, for a £1 donation to save the children.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about it?
I am not just being a scrooge, I don't object to most festive activities but:
1)parents on a very low income are out under pressure to buy and jumper and also contribute £1. Note that there are THREE OTHER non uniform days scheduled before this also with a £1 donation.

2) It means people buying jumpers which will barely be worn, which is terrible for the environment. Bad if they are made of nylon/acrylic/polyester as all plastics, bad if made from cheap unsustainable cotton due to massive water consumption and pollution by factories. Anyone who watched the recent Stacey Dooley documentary will know what I'm talking about.

3) the irony of donating the money to save the children when most people will have bought their child the cheapest jumper they can find for a couple of quid, meaning that children are likely to have been harmed at some stage in the production either by sweatshop labour, massive unsustainable farming, factories polluting their living environment and water source...

AIBU? I love Christmas but I just feel that school shouldn't be promoting pointless consumerism like this.

OP posts:
RTFT · 18/10/2018 14:05

So don't partake?

WerewolfNumber1 · 18/10/2018 14:05

Yanbu at all.

I refused to take part in that at work, and gave the £10 I’d have spent in primary direct to save the children instead, makes much more sense.

SymphonyofShadows · 18/10/2018 14:05

Our school say that you can jazz up a non Christmas jumper or school sweatshirt. They go out of their way to say not to specially buy. 4 non uniform days in a half term sounds like a lot!

YesItsMeIDontCare · 18/10/2018 14:05

Tack tinsel to a festively coloured jumper you already have?

DeadZed · 18/10/2018 14:06

Absolutely agree with you OP.

SnuggyBuggy · 18/10/2018 14:08

The whole Christmas jumper thing is really wasteful. Dressing up a jumper you already own with tinsel is a better idea.

Yogafailure · 18/10/2018 14:11

I think it's a load of bollocks too - buy my 3dc a jumper they'll only wear on that day? I'd rather give the money to charity. I've one scabby jumper that I wheel out to wear at work in a school on the day...it's about to celebrate a decade of use I think 🤔

chillpizza · 18/10/2018 14:12

Our school do this too I just make sure I keep hold of the oldest to pass down to the next ones for a once a year job. Loads will go up on Facebook for a pound or two as well or decorate a normal jumper with tinsel/baubles/battery led lights.

Drummingisfun · 18/10/2018 14:13

I already have a plan for DS - I have an old white teeshirt with a hole in it. I'm going to cut out a snowman shape and loosely stitch onto an existing jumper. Will use a black sharpie to add hat, buttons, eyes and probably embroider a carrot nose.

I might even manage to remove it intact so I can reuse it next year!

OP posts:
Stuckforthefourthtime · 18/10/2018 14:14

YANBU. The sudden Christmas jumper fad is hugely wasteful (even if you rewear over multiple years, how many wears do they really get?), and it's extra pressure for low income families.

If it's about a fun day and/or donations then they can wear casual clothes, if it's about being festive they can make something at school.

scortja · 18/10/2018 14:15

I absolutely hate it for all the reasons you say..

I also hate feeling like the most miserable person on earth when I point this out...

Kokeshi123 · 18/10/2018 14:17

Yes, it's a stupid idea.

Either don't take part (but do donate), or stick Xmas stickers to a sweater the kid already has.

3secondsfromchaos · 18/10/2018 14:17

At our school we lend stuff to each other all the time. Roman outfits, Victorian outfits, Christmas play outfits. It all gets passed around - usually via Facebook (I'm not much of a social mover on the playground). On our class FB group I'd be putting, "DD2 has a Christmas jumper she's grown out of if anyone wants to have/borrow it. I'm also looking for one for her if anyone wants to do any swapsies?"

I do know it's a faff with all the costume days but the kids work so hard at school these days that a bit of fun on costume day is well deserved IMHO 😉

Drummingisfun · 18/10/2018 14:17

scortja I am tempted to write an email to school asking if they have considered the points I made above but I don't want to be "that moany parent who whinges about everything"

OP posts:
OhComeOnRon · 18/10/2018 14:19

Meh, if you don't want to do it don't do it. Entirely your choice.
I like it - also my choice :)

desperateswisswife · 18/10/2018 14:19

Agree a million percent. Not even starting on all the other school dress up days. I looked at one of my DD^s cheap as chips costumes and just thought to myself that some poor so and so has been paid next to nothing to put this together. Also the environmental impact from producing and then transporting it.....

Drummingisfun · 18/10/2018 14:20

We also have WOW days to content with 3seconds which involve all manner of bodged up costumes. But xmas jumper day is just a normal day with a glittery jumper so it'a not about the linked activities.

OP posts:
Karrwomann · 18/10/2018 14:21

I think it’s quite fun unless I’ve forgotten again and am scrabbling around trying to find one at the last minute for my dc. I’ve seen loads in the charity shops and I think now people are at the stage of passing them round as there have been so many years of wearing them now.
They enjoy it and it’s a quick and easy way to raise money but if you can’t afford it, don’t pay.

Fishforclues · 18/10/2018 14:23

yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.

I did have an idea that a Christmas jumper bring and buy thing could work for the PTA. People donate their kids' virtually unused Christmas jumpers, buy a new one for a couple of quid, everyone saves money and reuses what would otherwise go to waste. But it would still fuel the whole Christmas jumper thing and pressure others to buy.

I miss the olden days of us wearing red and green to school carol practices. It's all you need.

3secondsfromchaos · 18/10/2018 14:23

I don't know what a WOW day is but it doesn't sound good 😆
My point was really that you can recycle them around friends or people at school. That way people aren't buying new. I totally agree with your points about sweatshops etc 😟

TombStonebake · 18/10/2018 14:24

Yanbu. A normal non uniform day would do.

I hate throwaway fashion for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. And you really get minimal wear out of Xmas jumpers.

Karrwomann · 18/10/2018 14:24

Just a shout out for dressing up days for history etc too, it really helps the kids remember the topic, brings it to life. Eg a Roman day where they have a feast or ww2 where they make soup etc, it makes is more meaningful, they can role play it.

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Theknacktoflying · 18/10/2018 14:25

If I really squint hard it is an easy fundraising activity and festive jumper could just be as simple as wearing bright red or sparkly jumper.

I think school (or ours were!) about the donation and kids/parents just put in what they could.

I just think that there are bigger wastes at Christmas and schools shouldn’t be selling Christmas cards ...

Furrydogmum · 18/10/2018 14:27

I made a felt reindeer with a jingly bell on it and stitched it onto dh's jumper last year - he hated it 😆 but it was for a company fundraiser so he sucked it up.

MiggledyHiggins · 18/10/2018 14:29

Give them some tinsel and a needle and thread on a plain sweatshirt. Or use permanent markers. No need to buy a specific jumper.

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