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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:
saleorbouy · 04/12/2021 20:37

I saw them lined up in Primark the other day and thought oh dear! Just a waste all round, waste of money, waste of wool/fabric and environmental waste.
All a one off, or maybe twice worn fad.
I feel your pain!

Mumoftwoinprimary · 04/12/2021 20:44

We buy large!

Got DS one when he was in reception - age 5-6. It lasted him for Reception, Y1, Y2 & Y3. (Ok - in Y3 it was a tad too small but with everything going on last year I forgot to check until too late and it just about fitted over his head!)

Got him a new one this year. Age 9 - 10. (He’s 8 and on the skinny side.) Should last him until he gets to secondary school.

HeyMicky · 04/12/2021 20:44

We have a jumper swap via the PTA - we collect them up in November and again in January. They are available throughout December for a donation of choice.

I personally buy the DDs' jumpers second hand on eBay at least a size too big so we get two years out of it, and DD2 inherits DD1s jumpers.

3scape · 04/12/2021 20:45

Schools could definitely do charity collect/ sell of this sort of barely worn item. Or even develop a collection of spares as a class ostensibly for "costumes".

douliket · 04/12/2021 20:48

I think it's the parents who are the problems here. Kids love festive jumpers day. Parents need to stop the ridiculous habit of buying new every year. Parents associations in school just do a collection of jumpers in January and the following year hand them down to the class below. Or simply swap between friends. Or put notice up in school notice board that you have a size 10-11 jumper and are looking for a 4-5 this year. Or do what we did this year, local charity shop had rails of Christmas jumpers for €2 each. £20 is mad money to spend on an Xmas jumper, can't imagine if you had 3 kids plus..waste of money when there is lots of options. Maybe suggest this to the parents association of your school this year

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2021 20:48

[quote Meowenstein]@Ronniz

People are very anti non uniform here but I like the idea.

Yeah I know, but it does work really well. Small children usually just wear really comfy clothing they can crawl, run, climb and play in.[/quote]
Non uniform is usually seen as a bad thing because then labels and trends can take over and it can be hard for those who can't keep up.

I suppose if the 'uniform' was plain, comfy casual unbranded clothing, perhaps in a small selection of colours, it would hopefully be more inclusive while not being a uniform of the 'mini business suit' style.

starsparkle08 · 04/12/2021 20:49

I love Christmas jumpers so my son always has one . Love Christmas jumper day it’s just lovely part of the festivities . I can understand others opinions on here but like some have suggested non uniform or school do cheap swap shops for jumpers

Hotelhelp · 04/12/2021 20:53

I’m sure many of our own Christmas party dresses are only worn once or twice too! Not too different really.

Meowenstein · 04/12/2021 20:53

@BarbaraofSeville

I suppose if the 'uniform' was plain, comfy casual unbranded clothing, perhaps in a small selection of colours, it would hopefully be more inclusive while not being a uniform of the 'mini business suit' style.

I think you are spot on! Times have changed, and school uniforms need to change too. Children are not business men/women. Their only job is to be children.

bandek · 04/12/2021 20:54

@colourfulpuddles

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

Also, nobody's getting penalised for wearing a normal winter jumper over one with a snowflake pattern.

Re the environment: I'm big reducing consumption. By second hand, or buy mew and pass along/recycle.

Wearing one/donations should be optional if some can't afford it, that solves the problem of the expense for families.

thedefinitionofmadness · 04/12/2021 20:56

There are lot of people round here who couldn't manage the £2- £3 in a charity shop. For several kids, perhaps. At short or no notice, a couple of weeks before Christmas, midwinter, on coin metered heating. People are totally oblivious on here.

No-one "misses out" for lack of an Xmas jumper day. Its not even really a thing.

EmeraldShamrock · 04/12/2021 20:57

My DC love wearing their Christmas jumper to school, many wear their own clothes whoever isn't a Christian.

Our school has a donation box for old Christmas jumpers.

I was one of the DC who never had the fad things, I fully understand why you'd like it stopped it is very harsh on a DC self esteem.

isthismylifenow · 04/12/2021 20:57

I have never heard of this!

Not that our DC would wear jumpers at Christmas as its too hot, but I must be a real grinch because there is no way I could get on board with this.

We don't even send Christmas cards. Do your DC really give every child in their class a card?

Sorry, but I think it is a huge waste of money which could be used for something more necessary.

isthismylifenow · 04/12/2021 20:59

And what about the families who don't celebrate Christmas? Do they just go along with it so the DC are not feeling left out? .

Arghlife · 04/12/2021 20:59

Yanbu. Our school has recently asked for jumpers to be donated that the parents could buy for a very small price.

MajesticallyAwkward · 04/12/2021 21:00

My DCs school is doing a 'swap shop' for Christmas jumpers. You can take in any that dc have outgrown and then there's an afternoon/evening where families can go in and get a jumper. It's a lovely idea, it's a school with a mix of families and I really like that they're doing things like this so fewer dc 'miss out'.

They do the same with uniforms, take in any they outgrow and it's available for anyone that needs it.

Original poster
Notspeakingup · 04/12/2021 21:00

I think non uniform can't happen in isolation though. My guess is it works in Sweden because there is less inequality. There is a local primary school here without uniform and and the children look ready for play/explore. Not fancy clothing, no obvious labels (apart from the popular Swedish not-cheap backpacks) But it's a very middle class artsy set and you can still spot the children from the local authority housing nearby. And the group's rarely mix outside of school.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 04/12/2021 21:01

Do they just go along with it so the DC are not feeling left out?
It is a wear your own clothes I'd assume, similarly to Halloween many DC don't celebrate Halloween.

Welcometothejingles · 04/12/2021 21:03

I buy generic star print jumpers for dd which can be worn all year round. Came in handy for space themed topic days as well.

FrancescaContini · 04/12/2021 21:04

Totally agree with the OP.
Tacky.
Waste of money.

AdventStar · 04/12/2021 21:07

Also, nobody's getting penalised for wearing a normal winter jumper over one with a snowflake pattern.

Penalised? No. Open to bullying? Yep.

Wineandroses3 · 04/12/2021 21:11

@isthismylifenow

And what about the families who don't celebrate Christmas? Do they just go along with it so the DC are not feeling left out? .
So what’s the answer then? Don’t do anything christmassy in schools so families who don’t celebrate Christmas don’t have to go along with it? Cos that’s the next logical step to your point.
Meowenstein · 04/12/2021 21:11

@Notspeakingup

My guess is it works in Sweden because there is less inequality.

It’s a completely different society, you are right.

Gigglechristmas · 04/12/2021 21:12

I mean, I kind of agree. But is everyone really buying new jumpers?

What’s wrong with a charity shop jumper for £2?

(And yes, I agree it should be optional, as should the donation, as even £2 is too much to find for some families.)

thedefinitionofmadness · 04/12/2021 21:13

@AdventStar

Also, nobody's getting penalised for wearing a normal winter jumper over one with a snowflake pattern.

Penalised? No. Open to bullying? Yep.

Its not even just bullying is it, just an awareness that you don't have and can't afford what other people do. Probably not for the first time.

It's all so....unneccessary.....and not even that jolly when you think it was probably made by a 9 year old in a sweatshop