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

spending lots of money on t shirts rather than say ... new, exciting books or a school trip somewhere educational seems ridiculous!

[quote SleepingStandingUp]@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair there's a difference between not wanting to do something and issuing out on it. If your kids didn't like dress up etc that's fine. It is sad for the kid in tears because they wanted to but weren't allowed[/quote]
I don't know what issuing out means but no wonder we have a geneaton of snowflakes if children are crying because the school doesn't do wbd

@cansu

spending lots of money on t shirts rather than say ... new, exciting books or a school trip somewhere educational seems ridiculous!

I agree. Plenty of books could be purchased with that money!

Ds is in year 7 now and every child was given a book (proper one not the wbd ones) on Friday. They could choose from a selection but it seems a much better way to celebrate wbd than a t shirt

Yes I can but my daughter dressing up outfits and she’s lucky that she has some.
It’s a lot more fun doing it with her classmates.

I do understand now that some families can’t afford to buy their children costumes.
I’ll be honest it didn’t cross my mind that some families couldn’t afford it.

We live in a fairly middle class area so the children in this category at my daughters school would be a small percentage

We live in a fairly middle class area so the children in this category at my daughters school would be a small percentage

Which would make them stand out even more if everyone else had fancy shop constjmes

@ShirleyPhallus

I think it’s a really good thing. Poor parents do not need the pressure of choosing between breakfast or a costume. Working parents do not need the pressure of an additional thing to organise. The environment does not need more synthetic costumes thrown away after being worn once.

If your child wants to wear fancy dress then do it at parties, weekends, local community events for these very things.

Perhaps keep her out of sainsburys if seeing costumes there upsets her.

You don't need a costume! Really annoys me when people say this as you can just wear non uniform. No one sane is choosing between a costume or breakfast.

You don't need a costume! Really annoys me when people say this as you can just wear non uniform. No one sane is choosing between a costume or breakfast.

Have you ever actually been in that position? Of being the one who shows up in jeans and has the teacher (and students) say ‘what are you??? That’s not world book day!’

Have you ever been the mum knowing it’s dress as a Roman day coming up and scrimping on things because you don’t want your child to be the one who stands out because you couldn’t afford a ‘proper’ costume like everyone else will have? If not, then I really don’t think you understand what it’s like.

And yes, if it was just one day then I’d understand. But as mentioned above it is not just one day. It’s lots of days.

I wish dds school was the same. On wbd they should get kids to actually like.... read!

But yes obviously for world book day you could go in jeans and be Percy Jackson/Harry Potter in the summer holidays/Junie B Jones, or your uniform and be Just William. And if that’s a choice (my son is autistic and will always go in joggers and a sweatshirt and say he’s horrid Henry so he doesn’t have to wear a costume) then it’s fine. If it’s a necessity, and your the child who already feels left out by being the ‘poor one’ then it’s a totally different situation.

I wish my sons school didn't do it.

I hated these "dressing up days" when my children were at primary school and was so relieved when they moved on to secondary school where most of that bollocks stopped.

Those occasions requiring costumes or a particular type of clothing in primary school were an absolute pain in the arse, especially when for some of that time I was on the bones of my arse financially.

After a change of headteacher the school then began coming up with ever more fanciful ideas - come dressed as your favourite animal, dressed as a Victorian etc. Come dressed as a Tudor or you won't be able to go on the school trip to a local stately home!

Although I have said that this crap did tail off dramatically in secondary school (it did), one school did ask us to help them celebrate their centenary by sending the children in wearing the school uniform of 1907, as if we all just happened to have such stuff in the wardrobe. I had to hire it even though money was still quite tight as I had no idea what else to do. I wasn't alone either.

I say be careful what you wish for. Thank your lucky stars for a sensible approach from the school. I would have much preferred that to what we got.

I hate all these compulsory dress up things. The worst bit is how cold / uncomfortable the kids can be in the costumes all day but I also resent having paid £100+ for fanxy dress costumes over the tears that we didn’t need or want. Also dislike watching hundreds of parents go out and spent £10-£20 each on their kids outfit then donating £1 to the charity it’s supposed to be for.

If your head has the strength of personality not to copy the other schools in this ridiculous tradition then that is a good thing.

You don't need a costume! Really annoys me when people say this as you can just wear non uniform. No one sane is choosing between a costume or breakfast.

@LondonQueen That is not always true. There was at least one school trip our primary school did for a couple of years running (the whole junior department was going) when the kids had to be dressed as Tudors. We even had a letter saying that they wouldn't be allowed to go on the day unless in the correct attire! It was a PITA, and felt somewhat intimidating and overwhelming if I am honest.

That’s awful topsyt and would be an automatic barrier to going for children like Ds who is autistic and can’t stand the idea of dressing up, school means school uniform to him and he won’t deviate from that.

I'd love this..less pressure on parents

Why do you need to your child to dress up at school?

Surely school is for learning and dress up what ever for home?

Wbd is a waste of time and energy. I hate it

I don't know what issuing out means meant to be missing
but no wonder we have a geneaton of snowflakes if children are crying because the school doesn't do wbd the examples on here of upset kids are when school don't do it but when individual kids aren't able or allowed to do it and school sets expectations of everyone complying. I personally don't think a 6 year old crying because they're the only one not in costume makes them "snowflakes".

At least with the tshirt idea they can all join in

@Bibbitybobbityboo86

Yes I can but my daughter dressing up outfits and she’s lucky that she has some. It’s a lot more fun doing it with her classmates.

I do understand now that some families can’t afford to buy their children costumes.
I’ll be honest it didn’t cross my mind that some families couldn’t afford it.

We live in a fairly middle class area so the children in this category at my daughters school would be a small percentage

So it’d be even more obvious that they were left out then.

@Bibbitybobbityboo86 I’ve just had a great idea - why don’t you organise a world book day party for your daughter and all her classmates? I’m sure you could apply for the vouchers yourself and hand them out. And you could decide on theme and games and everything else!

[quote Pumperthepumper]@Bibbitybobbityboo86 I’ve just had a great idea - why don’t you organise a world book day party for your daughter and all her classmates? I’m sure you could apply for the vouchers yourself and hand them out. And you could decide on theme and games and everything else![/quote]
That’s actually a great idea. You could hold it at your home, maybe on a Saturday. And hand the vouchers out. And you could think up an inclusive theme or maybe keep in a few spare costumes for anyone who doesn’t have one.

I really wish mine didn't do them. I don't mind children in need as I can just pay a £1 for non uniform day.

Gosh no... us peasants with low incomes are obviously too thick/lazy/feckless to be able to be creative.

I think if schools are serious about trying to reduce this sort of thing to help families in poverty they need to look at other areas as well.
My Yr3 DD's school didn't do WBD (no voucher either), so yes in theory saved us money for an outfit but in the next 3 months we have a sponsored walk (which I hate more than dress up days - having to badger family for money), a trip in May which is £30 and a trip in June which is £100!
Some families will have sleepless nights over that kind of money, plus as said upthread, the stress/embarrassment of contacting school to say they can't afford it .
Always stated as voluntary BUT will be cancelled if not enough people contribute which also puts pressure on families to go without to pay up.

You can do all those things at home OP. Schools and parents don’t need the extra pressure imo

trip in May which is £30 and a trip in June which is £100! where to @BettyOBarley??