world book day is a pointless, costly pain in the arse for working parents?

[LumpenProletariat]

Does it make any difference to reading levels? As a solo working mum, I find it a total pain and costly too.

In what way is it costly? We are just asked to send our kids favourite book into school with them.

And why is it costly specifically for working parents?

The children enjoy it and it’s a day to spend exploring books and raising the profile of reading. There’s a lot of things that are a pain in the arse but it doesn’t make them pointless. Just dress your kids in their own clothes and find them a character who doesn’t have a specific outfit - it’s really not that hard.

My DD always loved it and it doesn't have to cost.

Does it make any difference if I say it’s a costly PITA for teachers, too?

Makes no difference to reading levels, and doesn’t actually promote love of reading.

I guess it’s good for commerce, though. How many World Book Day costumes get sold in the various supermarkets every year?

@shouldistop

In what way is it costly? We are just asked to send our kids favourite book into school with them.

Our kids are allowed to dress up as a character from their favourite book - this time of year all the supermarkets have their costumes out which could work out costly if you have a few kids all wanting one. Not everyone has stuff at home they could use to put a costume together.

I think a chance to encourage children to enjoy books is great. Done well it should focus on the pleasure of reading rather than the academics of reading.

Part of the problem is too many parents see it as some sort of competition and make the costumes much more complicated than they need to be

Not sure why you think it’s just a costly, pain in the arse for working parents?
When I was a SAHM the whole thing was stress inducing because I couldn’t afford to just by a costume off Amazon (believe it or not not all SAHM’s enjoying crafting costumes) now I’m a working mum I could afford to but we’re past that stage but would totally just be bunging something in the Amazon basket!

Our kids are allowed to dress up as a character from their favourite book - this time of year all the supermarkets have their costumes out which could work out costly if you have a few kids all wanting one. Not everyone has stuff at home they could use to put a costume together.

I think that's the schools problem then rather than world book day. Schools shouldn't be encouraging costume dress up (except perhaps at Halloween as it's traditional- in Scotland at least).
It's bad for the environment at the very least and I'd be pointing that out to the school.
Our school has themed dress down days but it's very much encouraged that children wear clothes they already have and the suggestions from the school make that easy. If someone doesn't have something red for example then they put a message on the class WhatsApp and someone lends them something.

@Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies

Does it make any difference if I say it’s a costly PITA for teachers, too?

Makes no difference to reading levels, and doesn’t actually promote love of reading.

I guess it’s good for commerce, though. How many World Book Day costumes get sold in the various supermarkets every year?

I can imagine it's also a nuisance for teachers. My kids will have to get dressed up.

YABU my DH sent our dd in stuff from primark to make a costume and she could wear the clothes again. This year we have to bake something which does seem like a hassle lol

Why costly?
And why costly for working parents as opposed to non-working parents?
We've never spent anything on it

One year my children’s junior school told the Y5 and 6 children that if they turned up as Alex Rider/character from a Jacqueline Wilson book they would be sent home to get into uniform as this didn’t count as dressing up.

I did campaign at my school for the PJ option (you know, snuggle up with a good book, etc). Parents could choose normal dress up or this. Outcome was about 50/50.

One of the schools DDs attended had 'reading week' which was different activities based around reading and writing across the week, challenges etc with all the classes showing off their work to each other. No dressing up.

Some parents complained there was no fancy dress competition...

I work in a school and I love it. A whole day discussing books and seeing children excited about books is important.

Not just working parents, although I appreciate SAHMs may have more time to sort an outfit, most parents end up buying one.

The only parents that enjoy it are the competitive, gobby ones in my experience and the kids often don’t want to dress up last year 3. I don’t believe if helps reading ability either.

You dress up using things you already own, surely?

Schools and nurseries should stop the dressing up aspect.

Just have it as bring a book to share with your classmates or be prepared to talk about your favourite book.

End of!

It can be but I think it depends on how creative you are. I’ve used things I have from home to make costumes for Halloween for me and the kids.

One year my children’s junior school told the Y5 and 6 children that if they turned up as Alex Rider/character from a Jacqueline Wilson book they would be sent home to get into uniform as this didn’t count as dressing up.

That's absolutely ridiculous. Why are parents putting up with this shit.

I think it's a load of wank.

*past year 3.

@Mundra

You dress up using things you already own, surely?

You'd think so... but that isn't what happens.

People feel the need to buy an outfit.

It's amazing how many people make a giant hoo haa about costumes but don't even bother to claim their free £1 book with their voucher.
OP is your child's school insisting they MUST be in a costume? I doubt it.

You dress up using things you already own, surely?

Not everyone has the resources/imagination/time to create an outfit.