to think it's very sad that some parents can't be bothered to take their children to the school christmas fair

[emkana]

And before you all start I know that there are 101 very good reasons why some parents can't take their children.

But some could and just choose not to and I think that's sad for their children and sad for the school.

No, didn't organise the fair, but was in school today for a coffee morning for all the HELPERS!!! Not lazy.

our tombola tonight made £400
some pepoepl spent a fotrune

very very odd

Yes I know its the kids who are meant to enjoy it - thats why I take them to things like that. And seeing them enjoy it makes it fun for me too, but I wish it had been a bit easier tbh, lugging ds around for that long is hard work, and he was bored and hot and o well anyway.....I dunno why I;m arguing about this.... off to bed !

(Class helpers, not christmas fair helpers)

Hope you had good prizes!

we do a non uniforma dn they haev to bring luxury items in
got MASSES this year as we MADE them dorp it off int he hall

somsoen brough in two boxes of go cat

lol

we went tonight! was a hassle but i wouldnt miss it, also had to drag ds2 (10wks0 and my nephew who i was looking after(aged3)but he said it was fantastic.

i love anything Christmassy, but dh looks less than inmpressed, it was crowded and he was carting the baby along.
Won shower gel
Body Shop body lotion
jigsaw
Dr who mug and keyring
Bottle of pop
electronic toy
cuddly toy
and bits and bobs!!

I DON'T WIN NUTTIN'! IT'S ALL FIXED!

Actually, yes, I think it is sad if parents don't bother with school christmas fairs if (big disclaimer) there is no reason for them not to go. Fair enough if you or your dcs are busy - Tortoishell, with your sort of schedule, no way would I have made the christmas fair. Or if your dcs really don't want to go or you know through bitter experience that you don't get on with the parents and children at your school.

But otherwise yes IMO everyone is missing out - you, your children and the school - if you never got to school fairs and the like. Yes, they cost money, but a lot less if you just go for the last hour and take small change only.

How many times do you hear of parents wanting a school for their child that has a good sense of community? It is by joining in a little, going to school events etc that the sense of community is fostered IMO. It is not the only way, but is is an important way IMO.

I also don't agree that school fairs are purely for children's enjoyment. They are one of the times parents, especailly WOTH parents who do not do pick ups and drop offs, get to meet other parents socially. I see them as a natural opportunity to meet the parents of my son's friends, swap phone numbers, arrange playdates etc.

i loved it; ds didn't, really - picture of him looking extremely pained at arm's length of Father Christmas.

Ours is bloomin expensive. i can understand why people stay away tbh, it's hard not to spend at least a fiver.

One year for our 'bring a bottle' stall someone bought Domestos.

emkana you make me !

A fiver that might well be spent on a computer that your child might work on, or on playground equipment that your child might play with.

Why? Why?

I farted in a bottle and corked it, offered it to the school fair, ungrateful bastards said no!

The DC's school is fab on the Christmas fair. The children make up loads of games and the school provide small prizes for them (like two Haribos). The fair is in school time and the children work a rota on their own stalls and are then free to go round themselves.

The PTA does the stuff in the hall, but it is pretty minimal really - tombola, mucky dip (everything was in slime), tatoos, cakes.

The children informed me that they wanted to go round with their friends, but that I could come for the last 30mins if I wished

They raised £1700 which will all go to the local talking newspaper for the blind. I must say I feel so much more proud of the children because it was their games and stalled that raised the money and not the PTA!

Of course much of the effort fell on the teachers - so a big pat on the back for them too

Not something I've ever thought of as sad or otherwise. Just see this one as free choice.

I love bring a bottle stalls! you never know what you are going to end up with. Ive never got domestos yet, I have to admit.

sheesh

School fairs can be the 7th circle of hell - went with DD2 yesterday, stood in cramped school hall (surely the number of people in there must have breached some regulations??), 37 weeks pregnant and feeling like I wanted to pass out with the heat/crush/noise but it's part of the kids' sense of belonging to the school. DD2 (age 4) had a purse with 20p coins in, and it was great to see her feeling happy that she could choose to spend "her" money as each coin was one "go" or one bag of sweets (stalls were v helpfully all 20p and the school ahd told us in advance - not that many people seemed to pay attention to that by the numebr of notes around!)

So unless you work/have after-school activities/have an appt or party to go to, you should be prepared to give up half an hour of your time - I personally would rather just give the school a fiver, but where's the sense of community in that?

the school my kiddies go to does a fab xmas fair.

tis held during the day, parents send in their DC's with £2, and the kiddies only attend/run stalls/set out/clear away (well, with teachers supervising of course!)

the stall bits are sent in by parents the week previously in 'payment' for a mufti day, and then as it is held during school hourse they have pretty much 100% attendance from the kiddies (obviously poorly ones aren't there), and the parents don't have to worry about being 'bothered.

the kiddies love it as they get to buy what they like and also get the experience of dealing with real money too without a flapping mummy in the background saying 'ooh, you don't need that, you've got so much at home already'.

only problem I had was that my DS2 bought himself the very thing I had sent in as he claimed he didn't like it anymore.....effectively meaning I paid twice.......BUT.....he had huge fun and mummy didn't have to go through the trauma of taking 5 hyped kiddies somewhere I would have nightmares about.

My DDs went this evening. I donated the required wrapping paper, I gave them a fiver each to spend (plus I know they raided their piggies to pay for mine and DHs presents which they bought there), I dropped them off and picked them up. Did I have to go too?

Sometimes my ds1 has to do without going to things becuase of his severely autistic brother who doesnt like being in crowded places. If his dads not working he takes him and i mind ds2 or sometimes the other way about. Thats life, im sure there are plenty of people who think i dont bother because i cant be arsed but i really dont give a feck. Just because my son looks ok some people dont understand whats wrong with him There are lots of reasons why people dont go to things so dont just assume parents cant be arsed.

I didn't go this year (last night) but then DD has an evil vomiting bug, DH is away and my mate was coming round for pizza and wine.

I bought raffle tickets for the Christmas tombola thing and I donated a cake for the stall. To be honest it was peeing down last night so even if DD wasn't ill I probably wouldn't have taken her (parking provision at the school is dire and so we'd have had to walk in the torrential downpour). I don't feel that would have made me a 'lazy', 'can't be bothered' parent, I did contribute to the effort, we just didn't go the thing.