AIBU with this idea for school dress up day

[Sunflowersinthewind]

Ok I need other opinions as sometimes what I find funny in my head doesn't always translate as funny to other people

DS has a day coming up soon where he has to dress in "crazy" clothing for school (primary)

AIBU to find an old jumper and write "crazy on the inside" on it?

I'm worried as 1) its not an appropriate joke for that age, I dont want people to think I'm making fun of mental illness and 2) DS is autistic and I dont want people to think I'm making fun of that? The more I write it down, it isnt funny is it.

Aaaarrgghhh, does anyone have any bloody idea of what is crazy clothing?

FWIW, my DS does find the idea hilarious but he has unfortunately inherited my sense of humour

I think what they mean by "crazy clothing" is things you wouldn't usually wear together. So a striped shirt with a spotty cardigan over it. Or a pair of shorts with a winter jacket. Odd shoes, odd socks.

No that’s not funny.

Send him in a tin foil hat?

Crazy clothing, imho, is neon clothing, deeply bombers, hair up in small pony tails on head, hair colour spray, stripes, spots, rara skirts, leg warmers (think an 80's explosion!!) - why is this crazy? No idea....but maybe Google Timmy Mallet....that sort of crazy.....

I think when it comes to things like this if you have to ask if it’s appropriate then it isn’t!

@MLMshouldbeillegal

I think what they mean by "crazy clothing" is things you wouldn't usually wear together. So a striped shirt with a spotty cardigan over it. Or a pair of shorts with a winter jacket. Odd shoes, odd socks.

Yes

What's the purpose of the dress up day?

I work in a school and we wouldn't put out a request like this. It's a really odd theme that doesn't have a clear objective. We'd usually say wear rainbow colours, wear spots, wear something sporty.

I assume they mean mismatched clothes, like a spotty top and stripy leggings. Although for many children that's just a normal way of dressing.

Yeah I think it just means clothes you wouldn’t normally wear or wear together. So lots of bright clashing colours and patterns, football socks with a dress, shirt and tie with swim shorts, odd shoes etc.

It’s not about looking like someone with a mental illness. ‘Crazy’ is not being used in that context.

The school have been very vague but I think you've interpreted "crazy" as insane when they want it to mean Out of the ordinary, absurd, unlikely combinations of clothing.

You've been given a few examples on here- bright colours, a back to front shirt, odd socks, clashing patterns, a silly hat, etc.

Ok thank you, ruling that idea out. Although the idea that dressing just against the norm slightly is "crazy" also annoys me, but anyway.

Don’t do that….

Right.. you think it's a dress up day to mock people with mental illness do you?

To be honest I disapprove of the school using the word 'crazy' in this context. It's laced with inherent judgement of mental illness.

Even more so of sending DC to school labelled crazy.

Instead of writing crazy on the sweatshirt, why not let DC decorate it themselves in whatever whacky style they like? That + odd socks... That'll do.

@Sunflowersinthewind

Ok thank you, ruling that idea out. Although the idea that dressing just against the norm slightly is "crazy" also annoys me, but anyway.

Whereas dressing up as crazy to mock people with mental health conditions is just fine

@SmallProvincial

To be honest I disapprove of the school using the word 'crazy' in this context. It's laced with inherent judgement of mental illness.

Even more so of sending DC to school labelled crazy.

Instead of writing crazy on the sweatshirt, why not let DC decorate it themselves in whatever whacky style they like? That + odd socks... That'll do.

I agree with this TBH.

Pants on head. Done.

@Sunflowersinthewind

Ok thank you, ruling that idea out. Although the idea that dressing just against the norm slightly is "crazy" also annoys me, but anyway.

I agree, it's a very strange topic for a school dressing up day. We have a lot of emphasis at work about not using terms like "crazy" due to mental health implications. Would be good to know what's the purpose of it?

All it means is odd socks / shoes
Spots and stripes together
Yellow and purple together etc

Don't overthink it!

Are they 'levelling up' taking odd socks day?

anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week/odd-socks-day

Its Children in Need.....

I am not mocking mental illness.

Whatbi meant was wearing stripes with spots hints at that person who does that then says "ooh I'm crrraaazzzyyy, me"

The word crazy is not meant offensively in this context.

"Crazy" can simply mean " unusual, out of the ordinary, absurd", nothing to do with mental illness.

E.g.,it's raining like crazy, we've had a crazy amount of donations this year, that's leaning at a crazy angle.

The school should have explained properly and given examples to avoid parents misinterpreting!

Both the school and you have erred in using the colloquial "crazy" to mean "whacky" or "unusual".

Henceforth, think of it as "wear whacky clothing for Children in Need day" and act accordingly.
Erase the term "crazy" from your mind in this regard.

They are probably just trying to make the usual Children in Need 'dress in spots' easier for parents to do without having to buy anything. Instead of spots you can wear crazy combinations of clothes.

I’d get a plain jumper and write ‘cray cray’ on it - it’s what my kid refers to themselves as lol

And do wacky hair and pj bottoms

I think I'm just going to let him wear what he wants. Perversely if he chooses "normal" clothes then he will be the only one and therefore fitting the bill of unusual for that day