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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
gogohm · 17/02/2022 11:03

For anyone struggling this year - pjs (lost boys from Peter Pan, dress and plaits (obviously long hair required) pippi longstocking, old fashioned kids clothes - lion the witch and the wardrobe kids ditto the railway children (bonus marks for a red hanky) ok my kids were read traditional books so I'm not up on the latest ones (they are young adults) but I've never bought or sewn a fancy dress outfit! For the summer fete dd went as Lara Croft with her shirts and water pistol ... use what you have

Goldenbear · 17/02/2022 11:05

I think it is great as it is a bit of fun at primary school level which is comparable to my primary school days that were not entirely focused on Maths and literacy. We did so many other things like musicals and fetes and days of art and fun stuff.

fudging · 17/02/2022 11:06

It is a horrible concept these days. It does penalise poorer families who can't throw money at the problem.

It makes kids feel bad about themselves if their parents are not gifted at creating dressing up outfits.

So much judging and competitive parenting and, worst of all the school even make it competitive by giving out prizes for the best outfits!

Even worse: our primary banned ready-made superhero and princess outfits that you can pick up easily and cheaply. Not everyone has a dressing up box full of interesting outfits, space to keep old clothes they are useful or money to buy extra components that are needed to make the outfit meaningful.

The principle is the same as why we have uniform in this country, to promote equalness and stop money buying a prize or parents who are time-/money-poor letting down their kids.

Soffit · 17/02/2022 11:10

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.

HelloFrostyMorning · 17/02/2022 11:11

Everything involved in school shit is costly.

I don't miss those days!

One of the worst things/biggest cons is the uniforms/PE kits. Fucking rip-off. The schools AND the people who produced the uniforms must make a killing from them. They won't let you get a £7 blazer from Tesco, it MUST be the £75 on THEY provide. No reason on earth for this, other than they want to make a fat profit from parents.

Then there's the 'your child has won the chance to have their short story published in a book' con. 200 OTHER children had stories and poems published too - in the same book. And the book was available for sale, for £18, and £15 for additional copies for the nans and grandads, and the aunties and uncles etc.. Fucking con. Hmm

Re: working parents vs non-working parents with kids at school. Me and DH have always worked, and I can tell you that some 'single' (non-working) mums seemed to have a lot more surplus income than WE did.

It helped that they got everything free... rent, council tax, school meals for the kids, free school holidays for the kids, free dental, free prescriptions, and all sorts of concessions. Whilst we had to pay for EVERYTHING. With 2 kids only 14 months apart in age. Not benefit bashing, so don't pull that shit out. I am stating a fact.

TheSongAboutMe · 17/02/2022 11:12

Soffit

Quite ironic that you’re calling others clueless. 🤦🏻‍♀️

RussianSpy101 · 17/02/2022 11:14

YABU

Legoisthebest · 17/02/2022 11:14

iamtheweedonkey I agree - reading isn't just story books and novels. Comic books are a fantastic thing.
When my daughter was in nursery class at primary school her teacher came dressed as Dennis the Menace and bought along one of his childhood Beano annuals and the children were really fascinated.

LadyPropane · 17/02/2022 11:15

I'm not working at the moment and finding very costly. It felt much less costly last year when I was working and actually had money coming in. Not really sure why you've worded it that way?

BobMortimersPetOwl · 17/02/2022 11:17

It depends how each school does it really.

At my friends school they decorate a plain white tshirt with paint pens, glitters etc drawing their favourite character from a book. They then wear the tshirt on world book day.

orinocosfavoritecake · 17/02/2022 11:17

Yanbu

Dressing gown/Arthur Dent and carrying a towel/Ford Prefect is always a win.

Original poster
LumpenProletariat · 17/02/2022 11:17

@LadyPropane

I'm not working at the moment and finding very costly. It felt much less costly last year when I was working and actually had money coming in. Not really sure why you've worded it that way?
Sorry, @LadyPropane hasty post and bad wording perhaps on my part! I find it stressful to get things like this organised as well as costly. I also have children with additional needs and tend to get stressed out about this being another thing to get delivered as a parent.
OP posts:
HelloFrostyMorning · 17/02/2022 11:18

@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 a rude and obnoxious post. Hmm
Original poster
LumpenProletariat · 17/02/2022 11:18

@BobMortimersPetOwl

It depends how each school does it really.

At my friends school they decorate a plain white tshirt with paint pens, glitters etc drawing their favourite character from a book. They then wear the tshirt on world book day.

Now this is a great idea!
OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 11:19

I love it personally. There should be a rule that costumes should be homemade

Why? Not everyone is crafty. Not everyone has lots of lovely bits lying around. Not everyone has the time.

Clearly that would suit you, but not every parent is in your position or has your preferences.

TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 11:20

At my friends school they decorate a plain white tshirt with paint pens, glitters etc drawing their favourite character from a book. They then wear the tshirt on world book day

This is brilliant

Exhausteddog · 17/02/2022 11:21

Would you not just put it over their clothes?
It's still not just flinging a sheet over said child and sending them to school though...? It needs to be fashioned into some kind of costume that a) passes as a toga, b) your child agrees is suitable c) is practical to wear /move/ go to the toilet etc for a whole day!
The only sheet I had that I was willing to cut up/make into a costume was a cheapo almost threadbare one that was just about see-through.

Reluctantadult · 17/02/2022 11:22

My kids school have it right this year imo. They've said the theme is "bedtime story" and kids can wear Pj's, onesies or something snuggly and take a Teddy in, with their favourite bedtime story.

ldontWanna · 17/02/2022 11:22

@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 would those be?
Reluctantadult · 17/02/2022 11:22

However tomorrow we have bloody "numbers day", now that one is a pita!

Stokey · 17/02/2022 11:22

My kids love it and I've never bought them a costume. I just look through what we have with them and pull something together. I'm a working mum and not in the least arty or crafty. Some of the ones we've done without needing any skills are : Dorothy from Wizard of Oz - toy dog in basket & blue dress,

Sam I Am from Green Eggs & Ham - yellow t-shirt and paper plate with green eggs & ham drawn on it
Mrs Coulter from His Dark Materials - my clothes
Katniss from Hunger Games - furry gilet & plaits
Loads of people from Percy Jackson in normal clothes

Original poster
LumpenProletariat · 17/02/2022 11:23

@OnceuponaRainbow18

I’m planning on reusing my sons shepherd outfit I had to get for his nativity play, luckily it was £1.50 from a Charity shop
I have a child with autism and cannot go into shops. I also don't have time to start putting together costumes from charity shops. So will have to buy and have it sent. It will probably cost me £30 for something they will never wear again. Added to which, my child with autism will insist on being dressed as an angry bird or something rather than a character from a book.
OP posts:
IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 17/02/2022 11:23

I always enjoyed putting together a costume with what what we had at home. If we bought anything it was from a charity shop. I did nothing that required sewing because I can't sew!

Legoisthebest · 17/02/2022 11:25

HelloFrosty huh? ALL children in the UK are entitled to free prescriptions, eye tests, dental care etc. Depending on your childrens age they may have been entitled to free school meals in Year Reception and 1 and 2.
You had no need to be paying for 'everything'.

TheKeatingFive · 17/02/2022 11:25

The judgement is fucking dumb btw. My children live in a house full of books. I have a PhD in 18th century lit as it happens.

But if my child wants to go as Spider-Man and I can pick up a cheap outfit in Tesco, then I'd leap at that. It isn't indicative of anything.