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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To dislike the waste of ££ on World Book Day

222 replies

Mimmi78 · 04/03/2019 14:31

Straight up, I love reading! I've always had a book on the go and feel a bit naked if I go out without having one handy. It's World Book Day this week, I love this idea too, creating a lifelong love of reading is a fundamental cornerstone of education. However, in my kids school there are 400 pupils, many of whom have parents who will spend anything from a few pounds to many pounds on a costume this week. Retailers are the big winners here I think. I've estimated that the money could represent around £2,000 at our school, it took the PTA 3 months to raise that to buy essentials for the school. AIBU to wish it was more about books and less about commercial dressing up! Prepared to be slated but interested in anyone else feeling conflicted whilst wondering how to dress a six yo as Tom Gates

OP posts:

RiverTam · 05/03/2019 12:39

if reading is dreary unless it involves dressing up then schools are doing it wrong!

LaurieMarlow · 05/03/2019 12:42

I've just thought of a brilliant costume for DS that costs nothing and will be minimal effort, so right I'm now pro the whole thing.

funtimespeople · 05/03/2019 12:45

I also hate it. Decided not to buy anything but use that we have. Annoyingly our school are very prescriptive and give a specific book for each class so not much option for costumes. Highly unfair on those that can't afford it or have multiple children.

PopGoesTheWeaz · 05/03/2019 12:52

I would hate having to buy PJs for world book day because the kids need them to go to school in pjs once. Whats the point of that.

I think this post proves that there is just no pleasing everyone.

I would also like to know if you don't have PJs or even trackies with a tshirt that your children could wear to school?

twoshedsjackson · 05/03/2019 12:55

Not an issue at my last school, but I hear anecdotally that in some cash-strapped areas, schools were beginning to spot drops in attendance where children were embarrassed at not being able to participate; even "bring a donation for a non-uniform day can really unbalance the budget if three or four siblings are involved.
A dressing-up competition rather misses the point.
There are things you can do at no cost to enthuse about books; for example, we had a week of assemblies where different teachers talked about books they had loved as children, and why. (I'm proud to say, my presentation on Nigel Molesworth's "Down With Skool" caused a run on the school library!). Design a new cover for a book you love, do a "bring and buy" with books you have now outgrown, older children reading to younger ones, finding out fun facts about a favourite author - but I guess there's no monetary profit in that......

Beaverhausen · 05/03/2019 12:55

Yep can not be bothered to spend money on something she will wear for one day and bin.

So she us going as the boy who grew dragons. Dragon plush and her own clothes.

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:11

LaurieMarlow
my children have nightwear that they use for going to bed after their bath. They are clean, comfortable and just that, nightwear.

If they had to wear a pj to school, I would have to buy something suitable for school, and would probably bin after that as they would never be used again, being by definition nightwear!

LaurieMarlow · 05/03/2019 13:14

They are clean, comfortable and just that, nightwear.

Is this nightwear you’re talking about something radically different to a pair of pajamas?

RiverTam · 05/03/2019 13:14

thedisorganisedmum what? If DD had to wear PJs, she has 2 pairs and would wear the clean pair with underwear. Unless your DC have only one pair I don't get why you'd need to buy more?

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:17

because I wouldn't send my kids to bed in day clothes, or clothes they have been wearing in the day!

My daughter would be mortified to be seen in pjs at school, so would only accept if they were bought as an outfit.

The rest, because it's grim, if you wear clothes outside, they are not suitable for bed.

They must have a dozen of pjs each, and they are designed to be used to wear in bed, not to prance around at school. I wouldn't go to work in my nightie either!

LaurieMarlow · 05/03/2019 13:20

You sound slightly unhinged thisdisorganisedmum. The PJs are supposed to be a costume. It’s possible to wash them before they’re worn to bed.

Are you always this anal?

Cookit · 05/03/2019 13:22

If they had to wear a pj to school, I would have to buy something suitable for school, and would probably bin after that as they would never be used again, being by definition nightwear!

And why would you need to bin them? Couldn’t you just wash them and use as nightwear / pyjamas thereafter?

My nursery (6 months - 4 years) had a come to nursery (for a charitable donation) in pyjamas day and I have to say that annoyed me quite a lot as I felt that dressing a 1 year old up in pyjamas was just unhelpful when I was really trying to teach the distinction between clothes we wear at night and clothes we wear in the day! And obviously most of the children were far too young to get that it was a treat or somehow fun to wear pyjamas. However at school age I can see why a pyjama day would be quite fun.

RiverTam · 05/03/2019 13:23

good god, disorganised. PJs are just the same as any other clothes, just made looser for comfort in bed. You clearly have passed on your rather weird thinking on this score to your DD.

DD wouldn't wear the PJs she'd worn to school straight to bed (well, she might, actually, she'd probably think it fun), they'd get washed and out back in the drawer.

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:26

I am unhinged because my kids (and I) wear different items of clothing in daytime or night time, brilliant.

I know some people like to slob around in pjs, onesies, in supermarket, after swimming, or anywhere, I teach my kids to have a bit more self respect. Each to their own

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:27

if you think they are the same thing, why do you even bother to buy them in the first place!

RiverTam · 05/03/2019 13:28

There's a difference between wearing PJs out of the house on a regular basis and wearing them as a one-off for a WBD 'book at bedtime' event. You know that.

Sonicknuckles · 05/03/2019 13:28

Yep agreed. I refuse to buy a costume this time though. I will just put something together

Cookit · 05/03/2019 13:29

But the point is that it ISN’T a daily occurance and that it’s done for fun ONE day a year to promote reading. It’s not about promoting going to the supermarket in their pyjamas

sashh · 05/03/2019 13:30

My DCs (now older) went to a school that asked kids to come in PJs with their favourite bed time story. I felt so smug talking to friends whose DCs went to other schools

That's fab and you could do so much with it as a teacher.

Lots of things that schools could do, that would be much better. Bring in a listening dog to read to, have an afternoon nap in the school library.

LaurieMarlow · 05/03/2019 13:30

I don’t think anyone’s advocating that children wear their PJs all the time disorganised.

But as a once off ‘costume’ for a themed day in school. I simply cannot understand your issue with that.

It would be wasteful beyond belief to buy a new pair and then bin them. I’d be shocked at that behaviour.

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:37

It would be wasteful beyond belief to buy a new pair and then bin them.
my point exactly.

I also don't really see the point of a "bed time story" - we don't have bedtime books, they have books and they read when they want. It makes a lot more sense to chose a character of any book and do something around it.

If the school changes the rule and we have to buy a pj per child, we'll do it, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

RiverTam · 05/03/2019 13:41

I have to say organised that I think you would be the only parent to feel they needed to buy new PJs just for this. The school wouldn't be making you do it, it would be your choice so own it.

Skittlesss · 05/03/2019 13:42

Perhaps disorganised mum is trying to tell us that her children do not wear PJs to bed.

LaurieMarlow · 05/03/2019 13:44

The school wouldn't be making you do it, it would be your choice so own it.

100% agree

thedisorganisedmum · 05/03/2019 13:50

Perhaps disorganised mum is trying to tell us that her children do not wear PJs to bed.

and if they were not, how would that be any of your business exactly?

and no, I wouldn't be the only parent. A nursery tried to do a pj day when one of mine was there, and had to cancel because the majority of parents agreed with me and complained.

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