Mums setting up class wattsapp groups?

[Glitterzzz]

Hi

My little one has started reception in September. It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with schooling for this age group as my eldest is much elder

Anyways I have been notified a mum from each class has set up a wattsapp group for each class.. just wondering if this is the norm? With newsletters, emails, texts and the x2 daily school run what is the purpose of the wattsapp groups ?

Would you recommend joining or avoid ?

Thanks

Personally, I’d avoid like the plague!

Join - if like me you’re a scatterbrained they remind you of class trips and phots etc. We also did a class collection for a mum who had her bike stolen and got her a new one.

Useful for reminders. Getting to know other parents. Pre covid very handy for birthday invites as had parents numbertsoncould just send what's app instead of invites into school. I found them great when I was new to school settings and someone usually has the answer to what u need to know.

My eldest is at uni. My youngest is in Yr 1, so was asked to join the WhatsApp when youngest was in Reception, so eldest was well pre Whatsapp. I’ve heard plenty of horrifying MM threads wit WA, but actually it’s been really useful. If I need to clarify something there’s always a fast answer. It was originally a little cringe as all the other mums are friends (much younger than me or have several kids in different years) so they all went out quite often. Not for me... I don’t know them an am socially awkward anyway, but Covid has stopped that. I’d say join as at least you know what’s going on, even if you don’t comment.

Useful as some goody two shoes will remind you that it’s no uniform day tomorrow or it’s the last day for paying for a school trip or photos etc

"goody two shoes" really?

Our whatsapp group shares information and ideas. Even though you will get so much information from the school, there is always a time we you will forget something. We remind each other things to bring or last minute project. Also, if something is happening in the class, we can ask how others are. In reception, we'd have nights out - all invited.

Normal here. Super useful when kids have come home with someone else's gloves or your DC has lost their hat. Also good when someone more organised than I am reminds us to bring £1 in tomorrow

@PeggyPorschen

Useful as some goody two shoes will remind you that it’s no uniform day tomorrow or it’s the last day for paying for a school trip or photos etc

"goody two shoes" really?

Yep, I do this, I thought I was helping I'll let their kids turn up in uniform next time

My son is in Reception. We have one. It’s useful but not very busy. I mute it though.

Christ no.

Self appointed queen bees telling you that your ‘contribution’ to the class teacher christmas present is £20.

The best ever was when a couple of queen bees decided that for every class birthday, each child should contribute a tenner for a joint birthday present. How I laughed 😂😂

I loved watching the fall outs. Best entertainment ever

Avoid, so much clutter and noise of lots of historical parents.
Be prepared to scroll through hundreds messages daily, something like this:

Thanks
Yeh
I am panicking about the uniform, do they really need to wear t-shirts in winter?..
I know..
Yeh
I am going to write to the head..
Yeh
Greta idea
Love it
Great
Yeh
Thank
My son loves it too
I didn't get the email, can anyone share
Great thanks guys
Why are they not allowed in the gym?
I agree with Beth
Yeh
Me too
Thanks guy, you are so supportive
Etc etc.....

Useful as some goody two shoes will remind you that it’s no uniform day tomorrow or it’s the last day for paying for a school trip or photos etc

Or maybe they will get fed up of the lazy fuckers who cant be arsed with their child's life and decide fuck this, im just going to sit and wet myself laughing at parents who forget because they relied once to often on other people babysitting them.

Oh yes its funny to watch...

I think someone in the household should join if possible. It can be really useful. In our house, it's my DH who does that. I tend to feel obliged to get involved when people start talking on there, while DH naturally stays quiet. So it's better if he does it I actually found it quite stressful.

It is so parents can share information etc. Not all parents do school run and when I do I don't have some kind of meeting with the other parents to find out what's going on! Yes, there are messages on Parentmail but sometimes you forget it's no uniform on Friday and sometimes your DC comes home and says something ridiculous and you check with the other parents. Or you can't figure out how to upload the homework - you can ask someone in the evening. Personally I find it invaluable.

There's only 30 in a class so not busy or hundreds of messages! Only class parents added no 'historical' parents added who ever they might be. Why would you want to be added to a group of parents of DC in a class your DC used to be in?!

Oh and I love the 'goody 2 shoes' also known as organised kind parent helping others out.

Our class WhatsApp is so bloody tedious. Nigh on 100 messages discussing what to get the teacher and TA's for Xmas. Just take the money and get them something but don't keep wittering on about it ad nauseum.

Watching with interest.A parent at my DC's pre-school has started one and I am in two minds whether to join it or not. I have never used WhatsApp so will have to download it just for this and I am not sure if I want to give in to this WhatsApp culture .Surely my parents managed fine without WhatsApp and I am sure the school will notify me of anything I need to know. But I worry if everyone else joins in and I don't, it will make me the "odd one" and I won't be able to make friends, and this in turn will effect my DC (no play dates etc)

Probably depends how "chatty" the parents are. Ours is good as it's all just reminders on non uniform day, spellings, useful resources, there's very little general chat. I have all WhatsApp on mute.

You can al and join and if it's a pita then leave. It doesn't say when you've left.

There's only 30 in a class so not busy or hundreds of messages!

There are 60 in ours.

Tbh @WaltzingTilda, if you are pretty organised and keep up to speed with school stuff, you don't NEED to be on ths group ime. The only time it has been really useful for us is if dc brings home the wrong jumper or pe kit! Dh then asks the group and people go and check the labels. Other than that, I never even ask him anything about it. He keeps me updated if for example "oh frank is banging on about parking again" etc, but not much of it apples to us. What I didn't like about it was the people always complaining about school, for stuff that wasn't in any way relevant or particularly important. Annoying. Lots of complicated requests from parents doing little projects which had nothing to do with school but to do with their child and they just used the group to ask for help with it. Not the end of the world, but a little irksome. Dh ignores whereas I felt obliged to reply to people even if I couldn't/didn't want to help.

Ours very quickly descended into the clique who think they run the class, running the chat...I've not connected on there, or if I do, they still blank me at the gates. We had 36 posts about a jumper the other day. We got alot of discussion about how inclusive they all are, but again, ignore everyone else's posts. Over the top emojis of crying faces when the beta bitches confirm that their offspring adore the alpha bitches son. Grim.

Yes I think these groups are relevant socially (responding to WaltzingTilda). The Whatsapp group is how I get another parent’s number if DC has asked for a playdate. Also in non covid times there are sometimes last minute suggestions like “anyone up for meeting in the park after school” or “we are going to do x on saturday anyone fancy joining”.

It’s also a pretty good way of finding out which parents to avoid

Join and then mute the group. They are a pain but can have some useful info. Just don't engage much and check in sporadically.

I was recently asked To join two WhatsApp group but I just told them I don't use WhatsApp, it just doesn't appeal to me. They were fine with that. I don't need the mummy drama tbh.

I'm very grateful that my DDs class was a Facebook page instead.

Different posts for different things and much easier to find previous questions/answers.