Alien/space creature day at school

[VGY3]

We were informed a few weeks ago that school is doing it today. The memo was to 'be creative' and 'make' something to come to school in.. as an alien or space creature.

Me and DS worked together to make his. He was proud as punch and excited to show his friends.. until we got to school and saw that most of the other children in the class were in shop bought (proper) costumes. He then felt "silly" about his costume not being a "real one" and didn't want to wear it anymore.

I know people can be pushed for time, I am too, 3 kids and work ft, but we've had weeks. How hard is it to stick some googly eyes on a piece of card?

There was some hand made ones available in the class for children who's parents didn't participate, so nobody would feel left out. There was no need to go out and splurge on pricy costumes.

AIBU to feel a bit peeved?

Aren't forced to spend money, that should say, aren't forced!

Since when did a topic at school require dressing up though? There are lots of ways to make a topic fun and creative in the classroom (and trips out) without requiring a costume to be made at home or bought. And there are ways to invite parents to be involved with the topic without the pressure of costumes.

Well aren’t you charming!!

When I was a kid my mum, even though she was SAH and so had loads of time, knew what her creative limits were ie none so would get us shop costumes for Halloween and the like

Just you do you and let other parents do what they want. It’s up to you as your DS parent to explain to him why people have different costumes (hopefully without the judgement you are showing here)

Look at the utter tosh I'm responding to when I said that. Glossing over nastiness by other posters just to pick at an OP, typical.

Do you not think that there are?

It seems one day - maybe in 30 years or so - there will be no shop bought costumes available. Why ? Because the next generation never grew up learning how to design, create and make anything. Their mums just bought their costumes for them and the schools don't actually do it in school.......

Yeah sorry but I am a shop bought costume too. Mostly because I don't have creative bone in my body! I think if it specified home made I would definitely give it a go but sometimes life gets in the way and it's easier!

I hear you. I’d feel a bit bummed too -
mostly on my child’s behalf. There’s magic in creating your own if you have the time and I hope his teacher celebrated his creativity.

ultimately though you committed to spending that quality time with your child - and hopefully enjoyed the process / togetherness.

it’s easier to buy something on Amazon than to make it. Other parents are pressed for time / don’t have the confidence.

I hate it the most when decisions I make for my little family - which I KNOW are the right ones for my children, come in to contact with the world and look strange / other. It’s always a balancing act as a parent!

I know how to stop worrying about this.

Tell child’s dad it’s his problem and let him worry and feel peeved etc.

How rude

Of course it matters to OP as her son felt silly and didn't want to wear his costume.

@Prinnny

Imagine taking the piss out of a costume designed and worked on by a 4 year old, and you have the nerve to call me a creature? Send me a PM if you'd like to discuss it further.

Ugh, random costume days - spaff money up the wall on a bought costume or spaff time and hopefully less money up the wall on homemade.

Any props or headpieces get lost or broken at school and then you have a few parents and kids getting hung up on (loving parents/too broke to buy) homemade Vs (uncaring parents/has enough money to buy a good costume) bought.

Some kids love to dress up, but mine don't particularly (unless it's Spiderman), so whatever it is gets worn once or twice more before being donated or binned.

Why couldn't the kids just draw a space creature and write about its attributes - "lots of eyes to see through thick atmosphere" or some bollocks?

YABU. Do you seriously expect everyone to have the time or skills to make homemade costumes?

A pre loved costume from
Vinted for £2 is cheaper than making your own in a lot of cases. They aren't necessarily all brand new from
Amazon.

You see, OP is a lovely person! Definitely deserving of smiles at the school gate.

Yabu

You have no clue what is going on in their lives - disabilities, illness, bereavement. I'd imagine this was quite low down on the priorities of some and you shouldn't judge.

My children are adult now but my approach was always if the school said homemade we made it , if they didn’t I bought something because I had enough to do without making things that I didn’t need to especially as my sewing skills are non existent .

I'm as creative as a fence post and work more than full time. I have time to be gluing googly eyes on anything. I barely manage to feed myself some days. It would have been much better if they had all made the costumes in school.

Sometimes I did homemade and sometimes shop bought depending on the theme, time and what DS preferred. There is bound to be mix and I think that is to be expected.

Imagine making a post judging other parents and then insulting posters who suggest that’s not very nice behaviour.

The only person ‘taking the piss’ is you, I have nothing but sympathy for the 4 year old involved for a myriad of reasons 🙃

This is how I feel - I’ve been in the OPs position more than once where my kid is the only one with the homemade costume and ending up feeling self conscious as a result and I’ve also been the person who’s bought one because of lack of time or resources to make one

I think making them in school is the best idea kids would love working together and everyone would be in the same boat

We'll probably develop thicker skins as time goes on. This was the first 'dress up' day that we've had. My older DS' school doesn't do them (SEND school)

On the plus side I have the benefit of being able to manage DD's expectations next time.

My children's school has a 'no costumes' policy and although it can sometimes feel a bit 'party pooper' ish when I see other kids on book day and Halloween, overall I think it's a good thing.

I have one child with sensory issues, it's hard enough to get him to wear a (modified) uniform every day - there's not a chance he would wear any kind of costumes. There are also other SEN who would be scared or confused by Halloween or 'alien day' (what even the fuck is that?) costumes. The. There is the whole 'cost of the school day' thing. Never mind that some people don't have the time or resources to make a costume, or the money to buy one.

That doesn't really help you OP obviously, but I do think schools should be a bit more aware of this stuff.