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Original poster

World Book Day - just take in a sodding book

107 replies

Voluptuagoodshag · 04/03/2021 08:18

I'm probably a curmudgeonly old shite but all this dressing up nonsense. Do they actually discuss why they like the book they are the character of? Some aren't even books because the kid is determined to dress as a Disney princess or a character from a game. It doesn't exactly encourage reading does it?
And then all the stress of creating a costume, not necessarily connected to a favourite book but what can be thought of or is easiest to do.
Why can't a kid take in a favourite book and write a wee story as to why or have a wee discussion about it.

OP posts:
Goslowlysideways · 04/03/2021 08:21

They've all had such a crap time. World book Day is a bit of joy. Even if they dress up as something simple it's so much fun.
Kids need fun wherever they can get it. In my older children's secondary school all the staff dress up and the kids love it.
The ones in primary just love dressing up. It's a pain but I'd rather get costumes sorted than have the fricking class bear home.

arethereanyleftatall · 04/03/2021 08:22

That's what our school does and every school I know of does. The forcing of costumes is only something I've seen on the media/mn

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/03/2021 08:23

What a fun sucker you are. It's a bunch of 4-11yos. Who've had an otherwise shite year. Just let them pick a costume they have and will enjoy wearing to school.

BrumBoo · 04/03/2021 08:23

It's just a bit of fun. Plus a costume has them talking to each other about 'who they are', rather than 30 kids taking turns talking about Harry Potter. I also don't get the snobbery about characters from Disney, as long as they read Disney books at home, it's all good isn't it?

Ironfloor269 · 04/03/2021 08:26

2021 is the best World Book Day ever. My DD has to 'dress up' for morning zoom registration and that's it. The book character she's going in as is a detective so she's just going to carry a magnifying glass and a notebook and wear normal clothes.

I agree with you, OP, I wish they'd do away with the whole dressing up nonsense and just ask children to bring in their favourite book and talk about it.

Crappyfridays7 · 04/03/2021 08:26

Take a book where?
I don’t do world book day my kids aren’t bothered and both love to read
There’s no law that says you need to participate is there? No one can force anyone to wear a costume. Some kids do enjoy it and that’s great for them.

And as schools are off even better.
No class bear either I think there was a nursery one mind you we did it for ds2. It had gone for ds3 & 4 though thankfully. I’m sure you can just say no sorry I don’t want my kids to dress up/bring a stinky bear home?

thepeopleversuswork · 04/03/2021 08:28

Don’t get me started.

I hate WBD. Nothing to do with actual books, or reading, everything to do with stealth mummy boasts: “I’m so creative” etc.

Has always been a huge burden for working mums and this year of all years having to come up with a costume on top off all the rest of it feels like a bad joke.

Read books. Talk about books. Job done. No need to the showing off.

WisestIsShe · 04/03/2021 08:29

One of my emails this week told me that 1 in 11 primary aged children do not have a book of their own, rising 1in 8 in fsm eligible children. Have deleted it though so can't confirm the source.

I agree the dressing up can be an added burden. Our school used to do bedtime story day, come in your pjs.

Lovethewater · 04/03/2021 08:35

Our school have said pj's, onesie or comfy joggers and choose a book to share again this year. Another local school has the children decorating a potatoes as favourite book characters.

wonkylegs · 04/03/2021 08:36

@WisestIsShe unfortunately I can believe it. My eldest went to a primary school in a very deprived demographic and loads of kids didn't have books at home. The school fundraised all year to provide each child with a book for world book day and it was a fab day there with lots of encouragement for reading etc. I think it really did make a difference for those kids. I suspect that it's less of a life changer at my youngest's rather MC primary but he's looking forward to it none the less.

Scarlettpixie · 04/03/2021 08:49

Don’t be such a fun sponge! The kids at my sons primary loved dressing up for WBD (or anything else). It was never compulsory. So long as they give plenty of notice it’s fine. I was always a bit last minute but we pulled something together. Sometimes shop bought and sometimes home made. It’s another thing to do yes but it’s nice for the kids.

FluffySocks75 · 04/03/2021 08:52

The pressure to dress up and buy a fancy asda costume instead of wearing a cobbled together home costume is high and in a year when we have struggled with redundancy etc it's not a great time.

Soooo many book activities can do to make it fun instead of dressing up

KettleWentBang · 04/03/2021 08:55

I hated it as ds wasn't into books like the traditional ones. He was more a 'lego annual' or a fact book when young. He would never even at school read story books.
His school Said kids could dress as anything as long as was from any book. So girls often did princesses etc.

I also found what he wanted to go as, we never had the bits so I either purchased an outfit or bits and bobs to make one that would never be worn again and always 10-15 down. As a single parent at the time this was difficult to afford

When he got to about 9 he refused to dress up so only had a couple of years of it.

I now have younger kids and I can't say I'm looking forward to it haha.

BUT I think it's good for the kids to have a bit of fun. I know my dd will absolutely love it.

Blublubblubbing · 04/03/2021 08:57

What bothers me is having to buy a costume for 1 day never to he worn again. No I don't have to buy a costume but as a full time working parent I dont need the stress of coming up with something home made, especially when the school decide to go with a theme and don't let you just wear what you have. The kids much prefer to wear a costume that's been bought. I find it a huge waste of money and fucking hate the day! I've spent £36 for the two of them to go to school today and they'll never even look at those costumes again.

brokengate · 04/03/2021 08:58

My sister had a meltdown last night alter at 9pm realising niece was not to dress up but to make a character out of fruit and veg and take it in. ( lower primary Scotland).

EssentialHummus · 04/03/2021 08:59

I really dislike how it has become “Buy a Gruffalo outfit at Sainsbury’s, sorted” and generally huffed over. I wish it was less commercial and with more focus on celebrating books.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 04/03/2021 09:06

I'm so glad we never had all this dressing up crap when I was a kid Grin

ChameleonClara · 04/03/2021 09:09

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

What a fun sucker you are. It's a bunch of 4-11yos. Who've had an otherwise shite year. Just let them pick a costume they have and will enjoy wearing to school.
This comment ignores the significant number of children in poverty who feel even shitter when they are in the minority who can't afford to dress up.

They should make a bloody fun hat in class or something, there are plenty more inclusive ways to have just as much fun.

I can afford costumes personally but this really galls me.

Isawthathaggis · 04/03/2021 09:10

Hate WBD.

Such a lot of faff and nothing to do with reading books.

We’ve had to paint potatoes this year. Which was bollocks but better than dressing up.

ItsAllComingBackToMeNow · 04/03/2021 09:21

Well I love World Book Day and feel sad that this year, my DS who is in school isn’t dressing up due to not wanting kids to drag in extra stuff from home due to covid safety, which I agree with, but it’s still a shame. And DD is still at home. One of the last normal things that happened in this house was world book day last year. Sad

listsandbudgets · 04/03/2021 09:37

I'm listening to DS's English lesson. Each child has been asked to give a series of clues about a book of their choice until someone guesses what it is.

Next they're having a book quiz and maths is all based on a book today. They are spending the afternoon doing online drama lessons which will also apparently be book based.

They seem to be having fun :)

Laila747 · 04/03/2021 09:44

My DS is year 6 and they were told this year that they could dress up if they wanted or take in something that represents their favourite book...or to simply just take in their favourite book.
I think this was the best idea. It takes pressure off people that perhaps don’t have spare money for costumes etc but still includes everyone.
My DS is in the ‘not cool to dress up anymore’ club, so he happily took in his book about his favourite WWE wrestler...

AiryFairy1 · 04/03/2021 09:48

I agree OP.

I thought we’d escaped the dressing up madness this year, but no, they’ve deferred it to next week.

And the costumes have to be home “created” and my DC are so particular “it HAS to look realistic, mummy” (complicated mythical beast - realistic?!) and me without a creative bone in my body. It’s very stressful🙄😩😭

I love that they love books, reading and discussing them quite eloquently, but I’m a fun sponge when it comes to dressing up. A funge if you will.

hennybeans · 04/03/2021 09:50

I couldn't believe it when I received the email from school saying they had moved WBD to next Friday so DC won't miss out.

I really don't like National Buy A Costume at Sainsbury's Day. My DC are indifferent to dressing up. The unwritten rule at our school is you must come as either a standard Disney/ Marvel/ Harry Potter character or a £50 handmade costume from Etsy of Mary Poppins/ Alice in Wonderland. And a lot of parents do go all out and spend loads on outfit, shoes, wig, etc because when the DC shows up at school everyone gushes over them and makes a big fuss of the parent.

I know there is the kind of parent who loves this stuff and the kind who thinks it ridiculous and nothing to do with reading and I know which I am. There are so many possibilities for WBD, why do the same predictable activity every year?
Also, wearing spots for Children in Need. Virtually impossible to find boys clothing with spots. But every year, there it is.

Unanananana · 04/03/2021 09:51

WBD was better in online lessons this year! DS had to decorate a spud as his favourite book character. Much better than dressing up shite!