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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children in Need

72 replies

Finteq · 14/11/2023 08:57

It's that time again.

When you child springs the news upon you that they need a spotty outfit or some pudsey inspired clothing because the school is fundraising for children in need.

Obviously they don't have any clothes with pudsey on. And as luck has it,no clothes with spots.

Luckily the youngest ones (6) school has said they can wear spots,pudsey clothes or non-uniform.

The older ones (9) has said spots,pudsey clothes,or normal uniform. If wearing normal uniform they can choose if they want to donate or not.

As much as I've told the older one- people will wear what they want- boys always come in football strips no matter what the theme is, she isn't happy unless she is wearing spots or Pudsey clothes. Because
" that's what the teacher said" ,and apparently she'll get in trouble if she wears other clothes, she does have a bit of a nervous disposition.

And the youngest who probably wouldn't mind wearing normal clothes will not be happy if her older sister gets a brand new pudsey top and she has to wear something out of the cupboard.

How like am I to find something with spots on that doesn't cost too much as short notice.

So I'm probably gonna have to buy 2 pudsey themed clothes. ( That's if they are even in stock).

Anyway coming to the AIBU. Am i being unreasonable for being annoyed that the oldest kids school havent given them the option to wear other non- uniform if they dont have spotty clothes?

Obviously I can afford to buy the tops but there would be plenty of families left in the position of letting their kids down or spending cash they don't have.

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 14/11/2023 09:57

Christmas Jumper Day is another one that got binned by our headteacher, it's now a 'dress down day' no pressure to buy anything new, no pressure to have a jumper that will only be worn a month or two.

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/11/2023 10:00

DS2's school are doing a Wear Odd Socks day. Zero cost, zero waste.

NovemberName · 14/11/2023 10:05

VickyEadieofThigh · 14/11/2023 09:42

Parents having to buy new clothing, etc so that their children can go to school and donate a pound for the privilege is utterly STUPID.

And worse it's for Children in Need!!

The irony is flabbergasting!

Let's squeeze money and stress the parents of the children most in need.

You know, as affluent parents aren't going to be worried about wasting a few quid on landfill merch.

Schools need to stop this nonsense.

HoHoHoliday · 14/11/2023 10:20

Seems ridiculous for the school to even be suggesting this. Why not just fundraise through donations and activities? Why make parents spend money on themed clothing that won't be worn again. What a waste of money (that could have just been donated) and yet more burden on the environment.

Original poster
Finteq · 14/11/2023 10:22

Stephisaur · 14/11/2023 09:37

Amazon sell pudsey Tshirts @Finteq if that helps.

I did see.

But they are really expensive.

And stated above.

It's buying a couple of T shirts for £10 so you can donate £1. Ideally I wouldn't want to spend more than £5 on a T shirt. And if buying from Amazon. I don't think any of proceeds go to Children in Need.

Would rather buy a cheap Tshirt and draw spots on it.

OP posts:
waitholdup · 14/11/2023 10:25

Finteq · 14/11/2023 10:22

I did see.

But they are really expensive.

And stated above.

It's buying a couple of T shirts for £10 so you can donate £1. Ideally I wouldn't want to spend more than £5 on a T shirt. And if buying from Amazon. I don't think any of proceeds go to Children in Need.

Would rather buy a cheap Tshirt and draw spots on it.

Show quote history

Would rather buy a cheap Tshirt and draw spots on it.

Do that then?

If dd wants to wear official items, then can she use her pocket money/savings/birthday money

waitholdup · 14/11/2023 10:26

You said in your op

she isn't happy unless she is wearing spots

So draw spots on

Emmacb82 · 14/11/2023 10:26

I’ve got the opposite problem. Bought the t shirt weeks ago to be organised and his school isn’t doing anything - very disappointing!

Stephisaur · 14/11/2023 10:27

@Finteq The one I bought was only £7.99, apologies - I hadn't realised that would be considered expensive.

Original poster
Finteq · 14/11/2023 13:24

Stephisaur · 14/11/2023 10:27

@Finteq The one I bought was only £7.99, apologies - I hadn't realised that would be considered expensive.

It isn't

Just the ones that would be delivered in time are a lot more expensive. And obviously no donation will go to children in need I don't think.

Anyway went to George.

And they had rails of the stuff.

Got 2 T shirts- I should be able to get them to wear them after as well. So will be well used.
And got 2 sets of ears- I'm hoping to use year after year.

Total of £22.

And will also donate £2 on Friday.

So cost a total of £24.

Yes I could have done it cheaper if I'd bought sticker or got them to decorate an old T shirt.

OP posts:
Stephisaur · 14/11/2023 13:25

Ah ok, I really thought I'd put my foot in it!

Glad you managed to get sorted in time :) Good old Asda!

LolaSmiles · 14/11/2023 13:27

I'm not sending mine in spotty clothing.

As a family we try our best not to buy lots of cheap clothing, so the last thing I'm going to do is spend money before Christmas on tat for a day at school.

I feel the same about all these bloody "pay £1 to wear spots / wear red / wear stripey socks / wear a Christmas jumper / dress like a book character/ stick glitter to your face" days.

sunshineandshowers21 · 14/11/2023 13:37

last year i left it to the last minute so i just got some plain white t-shirts and coloured spots all over them. luckily this year the school is doing a pyjama day instead so my kids just need to pick which pyjamas to wear from their vast collection.

AmiablePedant · 14/11/2023 13:57

Aren't these kind of school demands really hard on the kids with indifferent, careless parents who won't give a toss about sending them in special get-ups? Or parents who can't afford special clothes? Just bringing the divides into more prominence?

Original poster
Finteq · 14/11/2023 14:19

AmiablePedant · 14/11/2023 13:57

Aren't these kind of school demands really hard on the kids with indifferent, careless parents who won't give a toss about sending them in special get-ups? Or parents who can't afford special clothes? Just bringing the divides into more prominence?

Yes

I agree

OP posts:
Legomania · 14/11/2023 14:30

Our school specifically says 'please don't buy anything specially'. So it's any spotty item you already own or own clothes

That said, I don't think we need to remove stuff lots of kids enjoy because indifferent, careless parents exist.

Op, the schools have both given your DC options outside of buying something, whether or not they are keen on them

Mountainhowl · 14/11/2023 14:33

Ours are to go in in pajamas, my youngest (3, at the school nursery) isn't convinced 😂

Sugarfree23 · 14/11/2023 14:34

AmiablePedant · 14/11/2023 13:57

Aren't these kind of school demands really hard on the kids with indifferent, careless parents who won't give a toss about sending them in special get-ups? Or parents who can't afford special clothes? Just bringing the divides into more prominence?

Yes absolutely. That is probably the main reason why our primary school stopped it.

HT has also said kids act differently on dress down days, the behaviour, less tuned into learning. And there is always someone who forgets about it.

Dowhadiddydiddydum · 14/11/2023 14:35

I was thinking about this earlier. We have no spotty clothes for out schools wear something spotty day Friday. I actually don’t think schools should do things that require specific clothing and prefer when they do things like ‘mad hair day” that people can join in with without purchasing anything.

I also wonder if charities or peoples approach to charity needs to change. I don’t want another pair of purses ears. I’d rather jus do a donation than buy something useless just to make a donation through that. Children in need does always seem to involve wearing something specific and be heavy on the product selling to generate money. I suppose that’s what get money for the charity but I’m not sure schools have to buy in to it. Surely a “west what you want” day would be better.

LlynTegid · 14/11/2023 14:37

Regardless of what you do (and I agree with you about the school's approach), somehow you need to do something about your DD and her nervousness, before it has a greater impact.

Original poster
Finteq · 14/11/2023 15:03

Legomania · 14/11/2023 14:30

Our school specifically says 'please don't buy anything specially'. So it's any spotty item you already own or own clothes

That said, I don't think we need to remove stuff lots of kids enjoy because indifferent, careless parents exist.

Op, the schools have both given your DC options outside of buying something, whether or not they are keen on them

Edited

For my oldest its just spotty clothes or Pudsey themed. Or normal school uniform.

And we didn't have anything spotty or Pudsey themed.

OP posts:
Nevermind31 · 14/11/2023 15:07

I don’t like any fundraising in school, and I don’t like having to buy low quality landfill clothes or plastic for these occasions.
i think it will be spotted docks here…

miniegg3 · 14/11/2023 15:08

I'm.not near a shop that sells anything pudsey, ears are 2.50 through theor site but 4.10 delivery and might not even come in time.. so I'm guessing no ears for us!

They're also only allowed an accessory and normal uniform, or a spotty t-shirt under their normal jumper, so I'm thinking what's the point really 🙄

Flickersy · 14/11/2023 15:13

I'm.not near a shop that sells anything pudsey, ears are 2.50 through theor site but 4.10 delivery and might not even come in time.. so I'm guessing no ears for us!

Do you have no headbands / hair grips, string, or paper / card in the house?

Colour and cut out ears.

Stick them to a headband, or attach to head with hair grips. Make a paper headband with ears. Sellotape them onto a beanie or baseball cap.

I swear it's like Blue Peter never happened and people don't know what scissors or glue are anymore and everything has to be bought in.

girlfriend44 · 14/11/2023 16:02

Can we please make it animals in need or the elderly in need.

Every year the same old same old.

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