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?

I went with "go and look at the clothes you have and think about what you want to go as!" Their choice.

For my first child I lovingly spent hours making costumes (do you know how hard it is to sew a cat in the hat hat?!), for my second child I bought her a matilda dress from the supermarket whilst doing my food shop... I'm not lazy, I'm just fucking busy! Oh and i don't judge people who buy costumes...

So OP what did your child dress up as today? Handmade costume yes?

It’s also worth remembering the sheer volume of costumes available at specialist shops/online. In reception, DS1 wanted to be Robin Hood. Peter Pan costume (which took bloody forever to track down) and I made him a quiver for his arrows. For a different dress up day that year he wanted to be Charles II (don’t ask). Found a black ‘judge’s wig’ in a costume shop and added that plus stick on moustache/goatee and an M&S knight costume he already had.

I’m quite grateful for his continued love of Harry Potter over the past few years, tbh.

My youngest reads loads of different books with us, but she went in her Elsa dress today because she likes wearing it, and life should be fun when you’re 5 IMO.

But as parents we aren't doing our kids any favours by doing this , its teaching them there is always an easy option if you have money , its a form of cheating if you think about it .

Well if schools took a stand and stopped encouraging this world book day dressing up farce parents would not be put in this position. It's not just an easy option if you have money. As have said it is sometimes cheaper to buy a costume rather than buy everything to make it.

Personally I would prefer if schools just did a day of activities around reading with money spent on fundraising events to provide more books and resources for school libraries rather than costumes. Perhaps things writing a book review of their favourite book to share with the class.

@JassyRadlett @BackInTime further to this school released a letter explaining it was because they felt so awful about the amount of money we were all spending on costumes that were just going to big corporations. Now not being funny but I've never bought an outfit specific for world book day we've just bloody picked something out the dressing up box. Also both my kids have Dalmatian onesies (actually last year they went as a Dalmatian and a cruella!) but hey weren't allowed to wear them cus we HAD to make them. I was savage 😂 then this morning when I was late after making last minute alterations face painting etc had the cheek to ask why I was late! I just gestured at the children and went this is why 😂 plus DD1 had swimming and bloody outdoor sports. Actually just pisses me off the whole thing. My kids read, they love reading, world book day has fuck all to do with that.

No reader has ever been created by a parent making a perfect costume.
No reader has ever been stopped by Asda's finest princess offerings.

Make it if you have the time and inclination, buy it if you have the money. Send them in a superman suit they already own if neither.

Ironically also I said to the kids what did you do then, did they read you 101 dalmations? "Oh no mum we all just went in the hall and watched the movie" ........ negating the whole point of the day no?!😂

They are the choice of a mother who has better things to do that sew children’s costumes. I was going to make my son a stick man costume but then caught myself just in time. Sent to school this morning in a Breton top and plastic glasses happy as pie to be where’s wally. If my children want hand made costumes they’ll have to make them themselves.

Red tshirt, saucepan and a wooden spoon=George's marvellous medicine

It's not bought from a shop, but took less effort than actually going out and buying something. Am I lazy too OP?

Go out and buy one for next year tomorrow when they are £3.

This week I have volunteered at my local school and run their scholastic book fair. The school get 60% commission if they spend it on books. To the parents who purchased a book that is probably cheaper on Amazon, thank you.
To the parents who regularly buy books from Amazon and donate the to the school, thank you too.

@Milicentbystander72
Worked out who you are and my daughter loves that book, and your illustrations (DITS?).

Omg molaboob! How clever are you?? Thank you for the compliments.

May go for another name change soon ;)

@Milicentbystander72
First one that sprang to mind! 😆 your secret's safe with me 🤐.

I would rather see 30 children in normal clothes representing everyday characters in books, rather than children wearing costumes of characters they barely know because it was available off the rack.

Yes but who on earth cares what judgmental people like you 'would rather see'?

The purpose of dressing up on World Book Day is to dress up as a character. That's it. It's not a competition to see whose parents have the most crafting ability or time on their hands. Most parents hate dress up days.

No reader has ever been created by a parent making a perfect costume.
No reader has ever been stopped by Asda's finest princess offerings.

^ And this too.

Mine was shop bought especially the fart machine I had tucked into the back of it! I was the pig from The secret diary of pig by Emer Stamp whose books I have read to four year two classes in a row and whose children were very excited to see me today!

Some would argue that it is people who make their own that are lazy as they obviously have the time.

dd is in reception and despite loving books she was adamant she wanted to be a fairy, it was originally silky from faraway tree but she went with tinkerbell in the end (no actual difference in costume).

I refuse on principle to spend money or time buying/making something that my child won't get much wear from.

Some would argue that it is people who make their own that are lazy as they obviously have the time.

that makes absolutely no sense

I get what you were trying to say, but it doesn't work!