World book day!

[ps1991]

All these children dressed up on tv and fb for world book day look lovely and happy, but AIBU to think shop bought costumes, especially standard princess costumes are a lazy choice?

Sorry not holding a picture of my book, I meant holding a copy of my book.

My DS is in nursery at school and the whole school wasn't dressed up. He was so upset. Aslong as it's something the child loves and wants to dress up as it shouldn't matter

I like that our school give a book to dress up based on. It stops a shit load of non book characters from popping up and actual makes the children think about an actual book. Not a TV program or computer game.

I don’t think buying costumes is lazy but it’s not something I would ever do myself because I am very tight!

God who actually gives a shit about stuff like this?!

DD went as Moana.

DS hates the whole thing.

DD went as a gymnast out of her favourite book backflips and friendships.

Are you that crafty Kirsty Allsopp shaming non-crafty parents? Tut tut, the lazy full- time working fuckers. Too busy earning a living, cleaning and feeding their children to sit down and work out how to make a Harry Potter costume out of cello tape and an old curtain. I despair!!

I haven't even sent my son to nursery in a costume. I'm 9 months pregnant, only realised last night what day it was today and didn't want to haul my massive painful pregnant hips around supermarkets looking for an outfit and spend ridiculous money on an outfit (he's not keen on any of the characters where outfits are available in the shops anyway) I've certainly got more important things to think about and spend my money on than what probably is a day which has been made up to guilt trip parents spending more money than they have. My son didn't seem to care this morning, so I think he'll be ok. I might buy a cheap outfit in the next few days for next year though!

If they had a bath Monster (son's favourite book) outfit he would probably bake in it all day anyway as it would probably consist of black fur. I will just say he is Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and he's the poor kid who can't afford a World Book Day costume.

I'm a teacher (currently on my PPA, sat in my "Elizabeth Bennet" dress and bonnet!... The kids all think I'm Bo Peep... never mind!). I'd never judge anything shop bought, couldn't care less how the costume has been put together.

I do definitely raise eyebrows at characters very clearly NOT from books, or with verrry tenuous links ("I'm Zoella because she wrote a book once"). The purpose is to celebrate BOOKS. I think it's a pretty poor show if you can't talk with your child about books to the extent that the only reference that can be thought of is a film one.

I sent DD in a shop bought costume but it was from one of her favourite books and instead of spending time making a costume (I'd be shit at), we spent an hour talking about the character, setting and plot of the book. Shop bought doesn't mean you're not making an effort to support your child's literacy.

DD (4) helpfully announced "little red riding hood is my favourite story" a few days ago. She was delighted to wear a shop bought LRRH costume. She looked as adorable as feck too. I wouldn't have bothered but she loves dressing up so it will get worn over and over.

I bought costumes this year, I've made in previous years & made do with what we have other years. Last year they just went in home clothes with a book because I'd completely forgotten due to a bereavement & trying to plan the funeral. I really don't think it matters. We've now got some more costumes for the dressing up box.

Mines in a t shirt he already had. He doesn't like dress up so I'm not making or buying a costume.
I'd rather spend by time reading to my child than messing about making a costume which he has no interest in.

'I'm a teacher (currently on my PPA, sat in my "Elizabeth Bennet" dress and bonnet!... The kids all think I'm Bo Peep... never mind!)'

This is my favourite book day post this year

Why do you assume that a bought costume can’t be of [one of] their favourite character[s]?

We’ve let Brownies come dressed up to the meeting closest to World Book Day a few times (always very much optional, heavily stressed to girls AND parents) & if a child has appeared in a bought costume - unusual tbh - it’s been a genuinely much-loved character that they wish to talk my ear off about (usually a Harry Potter one). And super-simple homemade ones haven’t meant a lack of care either - my “Suitcase Kid” Brownie one year very nearly broke my heart tbh.

My DS loves books, hates dressing up, he went in his normal pre-school gear, total win as far as I’m concerned! Could not care less what the other parents do re making/buying costumes tbh.

My children are 2 and 4 months so clearly I have a lot to learn.... shouldn't World Book Day be about reading the books?? I don't really understand why the dressing up seems to be obligatory, and feel really sorry for the kids who don't want to/ parents who are too busy.

YABU I work full time, have a chronic illness and my DH works long hours. I sent my DS to school in a shop bought outfit (I ironed it first). You think I’m lazy. Whatever.

I think parents that only make a costume are incredibly lazy.
I thought ahead when I was pregnant, wrote a series of children’s books and self published them. I’ve spent the last three days sewing a related costume for my son, from fabric I wove myself. If you’re not prepared to put some effort in I really don’t think you should have children.

@SachaStark - i saw several fortnite dress ups at school this morning! Apparently there was an annual brought out at Christmas? I struggled a bit with that one!

I dont think a bought outfit diminishes the love of a book character.
TBH you could argue that costumes such as Matilda are "lazy" if its just a girl in a dress.

It depends. If the child chose their favourite book, pick a character and get a shop bought costume, brilliant.

What is stupid is parents running around supermarkets at the last minute to pick up any random costume, what's the actual point of that?

I get parents trying to direct their kids towards one of the easier book they own, but completely random characters make no sense.

There's always some competitive parent who are looking for the best looking costume and pretend they are too busy to deal with a book character. You cringe, but it's their problem, they like to think as themselves as big shots who can't find 2 minutes to speak with their child, not sure why anyone would actually be proud of that if it was even true.

Sacha- maybe the superheros/princess costumes that are clearly not book characters are instead much loved costumes and are the only costumes the child owns and parents can't afford the lastest Roald Dahl or Walliams-inspired creation or have the resources to make such a thing without their child looking like a bully-target.

Funny how many posters describe themselves as "too busy for their children" but miraculously find the time to post nonsense on MN

Well sure @readytogogo but what about the reluctant reader, or the kids who have no books at home? Things like this are fun for the kids, it generates conversations about books, enthusiasm for reading, the urge to discover new authors and stories.

If a bit of dressing up helps that, why not? The amount of moaning about it on here astonishes me every single year.

I don’t have time this year, so I’ve bought one - a big one to last a few years!
As the children get older, the characters often become less colourful and there are fewer pictures of them. It’s tricky.

I’ve usually always done the full on DIY crafting thing, but after the prize for the best novelty race costume went to a hired costume one year, I felt less inclined!

I find these people who have fixed ideas about what everybody else should do for Book Day really odd.
Why do you care? That's a genuine question.