Daughters school not doing world book day

[Bibbitybobbityboo86]

So my daughters school never do world book day - AIBU to be disappointed?
I imagine some parents will be relieved but my daughter gets upset when she sees the costumes in Sainsbury’s or sees other kids in their costumes.

It’s not just world book day- it’s also children in need & Red Nose Day. The school won’t do anything in fact none of it even gets mentioned - it’s like it’s not happening.

Would you feel disappointed?

WIBU for me to contact the head teacher and ask why? I don’t want to be that parent

I’ve mentioned it to other parents and they agree and say it’s a shame but they don’t seem as bothered by it as me

I obviously live in a different world to some
Parents and I’m obviously ignorant to other peoples problems.

Fair enough - I just have memories of doing fun things at school and I imagined my childs school would do the same

I'm a teacher and hate these days. Partly because the behaviour is always worse. But mostly because it becomes very obvious who comes from a poor background. These dressing up days (even if it is just socks) cause extreme embarrassment for those who can't afford a nice costume/accessory.

Poverty proofing schools is important and should be on everyone’s mind.

children-ne.org.uk/advice/nine-things-you-can-do-to-start-poverty-proofing-your-school/

Not all families have spare pounds here and there. Dress down days and fun days have been shown to be occasions of huge stress for many children who are living in hidden poverty.

I agree with you OP, WBD is annoying for parents but stuff like that matters to young kids!

My DD's school doesn't do any of those things either and I think it's a shame for the kids and a bit miserable to be honest. A lot of the kids who had younger siblings in the infant school (who only wore PJs so no cost) were disappointed they didn't get to do anything.

There was absolutely no mention of WBD either. I wouldn't have minded if they had still had a focus on reading etc. during the day, but what a wasted opportunity when there is such a big push on reading.

@grapewines

But isn't that the same problem? Not all parents will be able to donate/do whatever is expected. It's better not to do it.

It’s better for the parents if schools don’t do it, but the kids love it doing those things, so it’s better for them if they do.

@Bibbitybobbityboo86

It doesn’t have to cost money

Wear your pjs to school
Odd socks day
Crazy hair day
Not everything costs money

Even with where your pjs to school,I still went out buying new ones because whilst it's fine wearing mismatched pj,s at home that might be a bit tattty ,you can hardly waear them at school .

@sheiselectric

I'm a teacher and hate these days. Partly because the behaviour is always worse. But mostly because it becomes very obvious who comes from a poor background. These dressing up days (even if it is just socks) cause extreme embarrassment for those who can't afford a nice costume/accessory.

That’s really sad - feel like a complete jerk now reading these comments

@Bibbitybobbityboo86

I obviously live in a different world to some Parents and I’m obviously ignorant to other peoples problems. Fair enough - I just have memories of doing fun things at school and I imagined my childs school would do the same

Fun in schools doesn’t have to come from dressing up though. We have loads of fun but it shouldn’t come from parents having to pay for it. Minimising the cost of the school day is really important. It’s not fun if a child is distressed because they can’t afford to join in.

@Bibbitybobbityboo86

It doesn’t have to cost money

Wear your pjs to school
Odd socks day
Crazy hair day
Not everything costs money

Many children will not have pyjamas they would be happy to go out in. Some may sleep in pants and t-shirt, or pyjamas may be old hand-me-downs that are perfectly fine for home.

Crazy hair day isn't free for children with short hair.

There"s still ways schools can do these days without expecting parents to dress the kids up. I wouldn't want them not to celebrate it at all but the kids could bring in their favourite book, get the free book offered and do some sort of activity in school. Simular thing goes for all the other days.

I think school staff are (rightly) increasingly conscious of the cost of the school day. See info below from Education Scotland website:

More than one in five children (220, 000) children across Scotland are officially recognised as living in poverty. In Glasgow, it is estimated that one in three children is living in poverty. Insufficient household income can mean that children and young people don’t have the resources needed for school and can’t easily afford to take part in school activities that cost money. This can put them at risk of missing out on opportunities at school and feeling different, excluded and unhappy.

I think it’s good they don’t do it. They could still do ‘world book day’ but no dressing up needed! No financial or time contributions from parents that may be struggling.

Poor children probably won't have nice pyjamas either.
However the school can still do world book Day without requesting anything from parents. Have a speaker in or have the children make an item of fancy dress in school etc.

Behaviour deteriorates, lessons are side lined for ‘innovative’ lessons ie we’ll ask year 6 to read with year 3 - we’ll offer a book token to the best dressed child (ie a supermarket expensive costume) We’ll ask the children to write a book about x topic and share with a friend. No maths, literacy, science lessons - waste of time.

We were poor when I was young and I hated these days.

My pyjamas were dad's old boxers and a tshirt.

I hated non uniform day because my clothes were all scruffy hand me downs.

Same with sponsored things for charity and donation day, I could never take in what other kids did.

No way could I have participated in WBD. Or my costume would have been shit and I'd be embarrassed.

When I was at school we didn’t do costumes for WBD but we did get a small book token which could either be exchanged for the special WBD books or put towards another book, I assume that is still the case? As long as they still give out those vouchers I think it’s fine - the whole point of it was to get more books to children who don’t necessarily have them at home.

I don't see why WBD has to involve any dressing up? Just a day dedicated to books at school with no parental cost or involvement would be great!

We had a pyjama day at our school. The kids loved it

Do the children receive the £1 book token that all UK children are meant to get? I would question that if they don't. Do they literally do 'nothing' for WBD or just not the dressing up?
Do they do fundraising for the school instead of 'outside' charities?
Does the school have a PTA? The PTA could do a survey* of parents to see what they think? If the majority isn't bothered then let it go. If most think it would be good to do then get a representative from the PTA to talk to the head (including ideas of a PTA run costume swap/loan event).

*Unfortunately however from experience you will send out 500 surveys and receive about 9 back

Our school haven’t given the book token for a few years now

If you had sat in my classroom yesterday and seen the two 8 year olds in tears because their parents couldn't get them costumes for various reasons, you'd happily bin it too. My school does a brilliant job with it and it is truly a special day for (most of) the children. I still hate it.

Take responsibility at home if she wants to dress up. Share books, help her research interesting authors, make it a family thing.

My dc school celebrated wbd, just not with costumes. All children were asked to have their taken reading their favourite book, in a funny place etc then email to teacher and teacher was going to pick the best pic. Older kids also got to pair up with younger kids and read for them. Cost nothing.

Parent of three here - that’s a lot of money/organization/brain power for one day!

My daughters school just didn’t mention it and we haven’t received a voucher either.

I wouldn’t dare mention it after reading these comments.

I’m not sure why people were so rude responding to me though - it was a genuine question I had I wanted other opinions

The school my kids go to doesn't do any of these dress up days either. For world book day they're getting a theatre company in later this month to do workshops with all the kids, and are encouraging the kids to go to the local library. Lots of parents moan but I like it.