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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish schools would scrap Christmas jumper day?

408 replies

Notspeakingup · 04/12/2021 17:59

DC2 has a couple of little classmates with difficult home lives, one in particular without much money. There are some Christmas jumper days coming up and I have been thinking about how tough it must be to always be the child with no jumper.

I know as children grow up you can't avoid the inequalities but it would be great if we could at least stop it being an issue at primary school. (And of course there are the families who buy jumpers when they can't really afford them).

OP posts:
Cotswoldmama · 04/12/2021 18:26

Our school has a rail of Christmas jumpers where people can donate old ones that don't fit and you can go a get one of those or trade an old one for a different size. Maybe you could suggest something similar to the school or PTA.

pastypirate · 04/12/2021 18:26

Yanbu in any way. I hate Xmas jumpers they are horrid.

Though we get ours from my pals chazza so it's easier for us.

pastypirate · 04/12/2021 18:26

@BernardBlackMissesLangCleg

hate them

I've bought a couple second hand, but they're just landfill fodder, the height of consumerism. ugh

They really really are.
soundsystem · 04/12/2021 18:27

Our school has Christmas jumpers in the uniform shop (our jumpers are red so we take ones that are a bit tatty for everyday wear and stick tinsel and sequins on them.) Lots of people are keen for environmental as well as financial reasons so it doesn't mark out kids as not being able to afford one from a shop iyswim. It's in a donation basis into an (unmanned) tin so know one knows what - if anything - you put in.

pastypirate · 04/12/2021 18:28

One year I bought the dds these beautiful white fluffy jumpers with sequin stars on in silver from Debenhams. I thought fab - a Xmas jumper that isn't fecking horrible. I got moaned at..

Christmas3143 · 04/12/2021 18:29

I give away my children's outgrown Christmas jumpers on Facebook each year! Also, you can buy cheap on ebay or charity shops!

JaninaDuszejko · 04/12/2021 18:30

We can afford to buy the jumpers but my DC have always refused to wear them except on Christmas Jumper day itself so I still hate the waste. If you're an adult at least you can pull out the same jumper each year (although I refuse to do it at work) but children grow. The DDs are at secondary and have asked for more generic jumpers they can wear all year now at least. DS is still at primary and working his way through the hand me downs. I look forward to giving them all to charity in a few years. Agree it's somewhat ironic that it's all supposedly in aid of a children's charity.

Original poster
Notspeakingup · 04/12/2021 18:30

Yes it’s a shame not everyone can afford them, but why should the majority have to miss out because of this?

I'm not suggesting children miss out on stockings and presents or treats etc because some children have less. Im just talking about in school. I'm suggesting that school should be somewhere where children all have an equal experience and no one feels left out.

OP posts:
DrCoconut · 04/12/2021 18:31

This is the only dress up day our school does and I like it. We never buy new, charity shops have loads of Christmas clothes at the moment and I've also inherited jumpers from friends. But school are very good about people who can't afford things because of the area they are in and take in Christmas jumpers, school uniforms etc so there is something in the box for pastoral care to give out discreetly if needed.

Locomelon · 04/12/2021 18:32

Our school do a Christmas jumper swap. One day they take in donations, and a week later they lay them all out. Free, but a donation to the PTA is optional.

MLMshouldbeillegal · 04/12/2021 18:32

So wasteful - totally agree.

liveforsummer · 04/12/2021 18:33

Our school pretty much has Xmas jumper month. It started in November with an Xmas art day to decorate the school and they can wear them any day for the rest of term so get more use. They also have an Xmas jumper sale with donations and sell for £2 pre covid - this year parents can't come in so dc an choose an Xmas jumper if they don't have one. This is arranged by the PSA not the school so could be an idea for you to arrange in future. I always buy big. One lasted dd1 4 years then dd2 wore it for 2. This years dd1 had for 3 years and dd2 is on year 2. They wear them at weekends and to any Xmas day out such as market or Santa's grotto too so definitely don't need to be a 1 time wear

Bearsinmotion · 04/12/2021 18:33

We also have to provide our own costumes for the Christmas play / nativity. I have two different angel costumes, a star, a king and a camel costume that have literally had one wear. I Suggested the school organised a donation but they didn’t take it up. A post - Christmas jumper costume / jumper collection would be great, sell them all for £1 come November…

Dizzyhedgehog · 04/12/2021 18:34

DS has a few Christmas jumpers. I always buy them used. He wears them from November until after Christmas. He doesn't have to wear school uniform, though. That'll come in next year and will be a lot more expensive. (Our school jumpers cost about £30 each. The wool ones are about £50.)

Malibuismysecrethome · 04/12/2021 18:35

I can’t stand Christmas jumpers. It must be horrible to be the kid with no jumper. A jumper you can wear a couple of times a year. I also think they are tacky. Bah humbug!

pompomsgalore · 04/12/2021 18:36

Our school so xmas/winter jumpers so that's more inclusive for those on a lower budget and those who don't celebrate Christmas.

LuluBlakey1 · 04/12/2021 18:38

Christmas jumpers are just acrylic landfill. Utter tat. Our DC will never have one.

TopCatsTopHat · 04/12/2021 18:39

Our school has a thriving donate a Xmas jumper system, the jumpers go round the years merrily, no-one feels left out and it's quite nice when particularly memorable ones go round again. 😊

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/12/2021 18:40

Our schools are a bit better

DD’s secondary has “Christmas sparkle” day so you can wear a little bit of something Christmassy with the uniform.

Ds has some sort of festive wear day I think - they do make it clear it doesn’t have to be jumpers

My Ds will wear his frequently throughout the winter so it’s not as much of a waste

I do agree with you though

InTheLabyrinth · 04/12/2021 18:41

@GrandTheftWalrus

My daughter needs 4 for school but I bought 2 from the charity shop and they'll do.
Surely you just wear the same jumper on 4 occasions?
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/12/2021 18:41

Just gave a couple of old ones to the charity shop - around here they always seem to have a few in so that’s also worth a look. I’ve bought them from there in the past

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/12/2021 18:42

She needs 4 separate jumpers??? Confused

soupmaker · 04/12/2021 18:42

@TopCatsTopHat Love this. I'm not a big fan of Xmas jumpers but if there is a way to allow all kids to have one to wear without expense that's fair enough.

Chasingaftermidnight · 04/12/2021 18:43

I agree with you. I always buy ours secondhand but that isn’t the point really.

Wabbabalooba · 04/12/2021 18:44

All the schools / nurseries in our council area (Scotland) have a week next week where they ask everybody to hand in any second hand jumpers... then the following week they're hung up on the gates outside in plastic bags with the size / colour on them for people to just take... People do take them, and there isn't any snobbery about it because they always communicate a lot on eco issues and recycling.

They do the same with Halloween costumes. Means although they have days, nobody is left out because there are always second hand ones available if needed.

They stress in newsletters how much better it is for the environment Grin It works well.

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