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Original poster

World book day

28 replies

Fuckfuckbollocks · 26/02/2020 12:30

Anyone else hate world book day and just dress up days in general? I have two primary age that need to dress up next week. I feel it is a complete waste of my time and money to have to participate in these bloody days. The school say you don't need to buy a costume but from past experience every kid at the school will have a brand new store bought costume on for that one day which tells me that parents either feel pressure to buy something or dont have time to make a costume.

My kids never dress up at home so I dont tend to buy costumes but I dont want my kids to be the only ones who havent got a nice fancy one. I'm looking at about £30+ for 2 kids for one day which is stupid.

I understand it is fun for the children but I find it stressful. Anyone else feel the same? It's up there with Christmas jumper day for me!

OP posts:
curlsnotfrizz · 26/02/2020 12:32

I never ever spent money on WBD. There is a lot you can do with normal clothes with even minimal creativity.

Mumdiva99 · 26/02/2020 12:34

Second hand all the way. Look on your local selling pages. Or go for something you can do with clothes from home - Football kit (boy in a dress), normal clothes and a bucket of dinosaurs, pink t-shirt make pig ears on a hairband. PJ's - (midnight gang, Peter Pan)

I get your frustration. But the kids love it. (Mine are told if you want brand new it comes from your money)

GreenTulips · 26/02/2020 12:34

There are lots of normal characters

But I agree it’s another cost and environmental waste.

Sweetbabycheezits · 26/02/2020 12:38

I am a school librarian, and the dressing up for WBD gives me the rage! Schools refuse to spend money on books or to even have a library, let alone hiring a qualified person to manage, but dressing up one day a year is their nod to books? It does absolutely nothing to foster reading culture, it's ridiculous.

PumpkinP · 26/02/2020 12:40

Yes I find it annoying too. And mine wouldn’t be happy with normal clothes as they want to dress up. I have 3 at school so even more expensive. Haven’t bothered with second hand as half the time it’s not much more buying new as people seem to want a lot for what they are selling.

AvoidingRealHumans · 26/02/2020 12:43

Completely agree. I'm stressing about it. Would have been fine as I have costumes from past years that I kept for my younger when book day comes around but the school have now put a roald Dahl/traditional tales theme on it so I have nothing. Keep looking on pinterest for ways I won't have to buy anything. So annoying

CoffeeChocolateWine · 26/02/2020 12:43

I was so pleased this year as we managed to cobble together awesome outfits for both my DC without having to buy a thing...just using clothes and props we already had (granted, my kids do love a bit of dressing up so we had a few bits to choose from).

Anyway, their school has now announced there will be a ‘theme’ for WBD! I’m so cheesed off. The outfits in no way fit in the theme. I thought the point of WBD is that the ‘theme’ is books! Why does there need to be another theme? Anyway, screw them. We’re not doing the theme because that would involve me spending money. They have their outfits, the DC are chuffed with said outfits, the theme is books. 📚

PumpkinP · 26/02/2020 12:46

My school does themes as well! I wish they wouldn’t, I ignored the theme last year and will again this year. But pretty much everyone sticks to it

Original poster
Fuckfuckbollocks · 26/02/2020 12:46

Our school have said no superhero costumes so they must feel like every parent shoves their son in one every year but that's probably because it's all the parent has and they dont want to spend money on a costume for ONE day only.
They havent specified no princess costumes or anything else just superheros

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 26/02/2020 12:48

Thankfully my DS school this year have finally doing the sensible thing and doing the dress up in Pj's and bring in your favourite book.

Since my children grew out of 'dressing up' I made the rule that they could only dress using the clothes we have. There are loads of characters in books that are normal children.

Longdistance · 26/02/2020 12:49

My dds school is asking children to dress in the their pyjamas to promote bedtime reading. I’m happy with that.
The school I work in is a Prep school, they’re do it every other year, this year is the year 😩

Original poster
Fuckfuckbollocks · 26/02/2020 12:51

I wish mine would say pyjamas! That would be easy

OP posts:
mencken · 26/02/2020 12:52

if anyone actually gives a stuff about the environment then this nonsense needs to go. Rules are 'no buying new costumes'. Wear last year's one, go to a charity shop or don't bother and do some bloody reading instead.

perhaps something for one of these mothers action groups to take on, instead of jolly days out to shriek in London. Change begins at home.

Doodledoom · 26/02/2020 12:53

My child's school has decided that this year its dress a potato as your favourite book character, because apparently its less time consuming and less expensive for parents...

So now I've got to try and engage my autistic child to do craft at home which he hates and find the time to do it.... I'd prefer to just dress him up as a character I don't have time to mess about with a potato haha

Appletreehouse · 26/02/2020 12:54

Our school has moved away from the dressing up angle and requested they come in normal clothes or pyjamas and have a selection of activities planned based around reading instead

UsainDolt · 26/02/2020 12:58

I get frustrated annually that people are spending money on costumes, when they could (and should) buy a book to celebrate the day.

pelirocco123 · 26/02/2020 18:32

Over 30 years daughters school was celebrating their first anniversary and they had an outdoor play ,she was ti be part of a wall and they wanted her in a grey dress...she only had a red dress so guess she was the odd patch on the wall

GreenTulips · 26/02/2020 18:40

I agree

It’s better to buy a book than a costume.

Or donate a book to the school or swap a book with a friend

A thing other than this expense

Hoik · 26/02/2020 18:42

The DCs' schools have specified no pyjamas, no onesies (including all-in-one style costumes), and no leotards or swimwear. First School have also said no masks or face paint, they have however said today that children can wear non-uniform if they'd prefer not to dress up.

10yo school are doing Harry Potter theme and all costumes must fit the theme. DS is autistic and hates dressing up/dress up days. He is going in normal non-uniform and is going to be either 'Harry Potter in half term' or a muggle.

5yo is going to wear non-uniform as he also hates dress up days for the same reason.

8yo is reading the Frozen themed Twisted Tale so is going as Elsa.

Inniu · 26/02/2020 18:44

We have to do environmentally friendly costumes.

DS liked the book “Balaclava Boy” and we have a skiing balaclava so I guess that will do.

ImportantWater · 26/02/2020 18:47

Ours dropped it for a while in favour of dressing up a potato but it’s back now. @Doodledoom there’s a character in Beano that has a pet potato (Pieface) just take a potato in and call it Paul the Potato.
I usually get mine to be something we already have clothes for, they were Peter Pan or Robin Hood for years until the green outfit got too small.

GregoryGrainog · 26/02/2020 18:47

The easiest costumes I did were The Cat in the Hat and Miss Trunchbull. I didn't have to buy anything for those ones.

Roxy9176 · 26/02/2020 18:48

I home educate but I'm still dressing my child up. It's mostly everything I have at home (spent £1 on an accessory). And we will be doing book themed activities for a few days over it.

People don't have to buy store bought - with sites like Pintrest there's loads of ideas you could do with things parents already have at home. One of my child's favourite books is even a child in dressing gown with a teddy bear so lots of easy options.

I've heard lots of schools are also encouraging a pyjama day instead or dressing a potato

Whatsername177 · 26/02/2020 18:48

My dd is going in pyjamas - she is going as a character from 'The Midnight Gang'. I like WBD but I do think costs are ridiculous. I teach in a secondary school and our librarian is amazing. She does loads of activities, all of the teachers where a name badge with a famous literary character on and all Year 7 and 8 classes bring a book to lessons with them that we read as a class over the course of the day. So, the kids have an entire book read to them - 20 minutes per lesson across the day. They absolutely love it.

Playdoughbum · 26/02/2020 18:53

But....
We tried to ditch dressing up and guess what? Parents complained. Can’t win.
We had several small girls dressed as Harley Quinn last year. Confused
Hate the pressure on working parents, parents with no money, the kids whose parents forget. Grr.

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