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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

698 replies

LumpenProletariat · 17/02/2022 09:18

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

OP posts:
ldontWanna · 17/02/2022 11:56

@BlusteryLake

It's an enrichment opportunity to encourage discussion about reading and perhaps branch out into a different style of book. You know it's coming every year so you can always sort a costume a couple of months ahead of time. I think you should make an effort to support these things.
If done well yes. More often than not it isn't done well. Plus it's irrelevant what you have (if it still fits) if the school announces on 28th of feb that they should come as a character from Matilda and just that.
Original poster
LumpenProletariat · 17/02/2022 11:56

@BlusteryLake

It's an enrichment opportunity to encourage discussion about reading and perhaps branch out into a different style of book. You know it's coming every year so you can always sort a costume a couple of months ahead of time. I think you should make an effort to support these things.
I do make an effort. I'm sick of making an effort and sick of the cost.

As someone else said, wear yellow for mental health, wear mismatched socks, get dressed for this, wear pyjamas for that.

I'm in a professional job and find it a pain in the ass. How will someone who is on the breadline going to feel? There will be many in this predicament across the country with no one speaking up for them.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 11:56

It's an enrichment opportunity to encourage discussion about reading and perhaps branch out into a different style of book.

It strikes me as a not particularly effective way of doing those things. Wouldn't it be better to focus on the books and the reading more directly?

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 11:57

@Mundra

You dress up using things you already own, surely?
Exactly! More fool people who buy shit from the supermarket for this. The point is to make you look in the books and discuss the characters with your kids.
HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 11:58

@Cuck00soup

You need to look in your DCs wardrobe for an outfit you already have.

Then you “remind” your child what their favourite book is.

Ballet outfit? Ballet shoes.
Jeans and a sweater - Alex Rider
Nightwear, Sophie from the BFG

Nightwear with wellies, Sophie from the Tiger who came to Tea.
HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 12:01

Plus it’s not a surprise, happens every year. When you’re reading be stone stories with your kid you take note of characters with easy costumes and bank them for WBD.

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 12:01

Bedtime.

Cuck00soup · 17/02/2022 12:03

I could so have done the tiger who came to tea with both DDs Grin

I’m actually slightly sad mine are too old for this now.

Although one is a teacher, she might go for it as she has to read some of her favourite book.

DrSbaitso · 17/02/2022 12:03

@Soffit

I love it personally. There should be a rule that costumes should be homemade. In terms of reading, it could be substituted with a library holiday scheme condition that every child must read and review, say, three books. I have seen children in costumes which prove that they have never engaged with a single book in their lives and their parents are equally as clueless and ill-read.
What costumes? How do they prove that?
XiCi · 17/02/2022 12:06

@shouldistop

In what way is it costly? We are just asked to send our kids favourite book into school with them.
You must be very much in the minority. Every school I know expects fancy dress for world book day and its a pita, does nothing to encourage reading and is an unnecessary cost. I'd love it if you could just send them in with their favourite book.
TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/02/2022 12:06

Plus it's irrelevant what you have (if it still fits) if the school announces on 28th of feb that they should come as a character from Matilda and just that.

I agree they should avoid restrictive themes. One year it was Julia Donaldson characters from specific books. There were lots of options for girls, but for boys it was basically Stickman, and it was too late to order one. DS went in looking like a poo with some leaves stuck on, and even then I had to buy a brown tracksuit, because who on earth would have one by choice?

TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 12:06

People are assuming that everyone has lots of dress up clothes lying around, but some families don't have that. I know there are a few characters that can go in 'ordinary' clothes, but it's not an exhaustive list.

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 12:07

@TheKeatingFive

People are assuming that everyone has lots of dress up clothes lying around, but some families don't have that. I know there are a few characters that can go in 'ordinary' clothes, but it's not an exhaustive list.
You only need one.
TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 12:07

Plus it’s not a surprise, happens every year.

The themes are very often a surprise

XiCi · 17/02/2022 12:08

There should be a rule that costumes should be homemade
Seriously? I work long hours. The last thing I want to do when I get in from work is start designing and making a fancy dress costume. Ridiculous

MitheredAndFrazzled · 17/02/2022 12:08

We also have another dress up day after half term, where they need to wear aprons and bonnets, something to do with great fire of London. Neither of which I have so will more than likely have to buy.

I'd be looking for a character that wears a bonnet and apron for World Book Day, that way you can use it at least twice. Although for 1666 (depending on how large you DDs head is!) I think I'd just use a large white handkerchief. (See these drawings from 1687.)

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 12:09

@TheKeatingFive

People are assuming that everyone has lots of dress up clothes lying around, but some families don't have that. I know there are a few characters that can go in 'ordinary' clothes, but it's not an exhaustive list.
And wearing parents’ clothes or sibling clothes is an option, so ordinary clothes are dressing up clothes too.
TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 12:09

You only need one.

Yeah but the child is supposed to have a connection with the character. Isn't that the point? I don't see much value in telling them 'you're Charlie Bucket' if they have no interest or affinity with that book. That would strike me a stupid, box ticking thing.

DrSbaitso · 17/02/2022 12:10

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Plus it's irrelevant what you have (if it still fits) if the school announces on 28th of feb that they should come as a character from Matilda and just that.

I agree they should avoid restrictive themes. One year it was Julia Donaldson characters from specific books. There were lots of options for girls, but for boys it was basically Stickman, and it was too late to order one. DS went in looking like a poo with some leaves stuck on, and even then I had to buy a brown tracksuit, because who on earth would have one by choice?

Well, I think it was worth it purely to describe him as looking like a poo with some leaves stuck on. That made me laugh.

There are other male Julia Donaldson characters.. all blue like the boy in the Smeds and Smoos book, Fred from Tabby McTat, the scarecrow groom from the scarecrow wedding one. I'd probably have gone for the Smartest Giant in Town...any big white shirt thing would do. But I agree a restrictive theme like that is a bad idea.

TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 12:10

And wearing parents’ clothes or sibling clothes is an option, so ordinary clothes are dressing up clothes too.

I would struggle to see how my 40 year old mum clothes or his brothers toddler clothes would be of any help here.

Bunglemom · 17/02/2022 12:10

Totally agree! my daughters school dictate what they should be so for example my DD in reception had a choice of Alice in Wonderland, Jack and the Beanstalk, The ginger bread man etc... which annoys the hell out of me as i have stuff in the house i can use for other books but no ive got to dress them up in bought costumes because i feel pressured to and i wouldnt want them to feel left out.

XiCi · 17/02/2022 12:11

I have seen children in costumes which prove that they have never engaged with a single book in their lives and their parents are equally as clueless and ill-read
What a nasty post. I imagine there are a lot of parents that send their children in wearing Disney costumes as they are more likely to already own them and they can't afford to buy something new. Absolutely nothing to do with how much they or their children read.

TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 12:12

I have seen children in costumes which prove that they have never engaged with a single book in their lives and their parents are equally as clueless and ill-read

How would a costume prove either of those things? 🤔

Randommother · 17/02/2022 12:13

Personally I hate it. I have a child who seriously hates reading, it’s a battle every single time we open a book, and has been for years. This doesn’t help him at all, he’s forced to chose “his favourite book” when he doesn’t have one and dress as a character from it. He’s dyslexic, but even with a specialist reading tutor, a wide variety of books, and huge encouragement, we haven’t managed to spark any interest. World Book Day makes him feel like a total outcast and I’m dreading it.

HaveringWavering · 17/02/2022 12:13

@TheKeatingFive

Plus it’s not a surprise, happens every year.

The themes are very often a surprise

So talk to the teacher/school/parents’ association at some point earlier in the year and explain that any theme beyond “character from a book” is not workable, for the reasons you give.