To be annoyed child got no part in school play

[Honeybeebuzz]

Child is in Year 1, they do their play with the reception class too. Last year he didn't get a part but we were told it's because most parts go to the Year 1s. Just found out he's not got a part again, just chorus. Its a small school so most do and im not sure why he didn't. He's generally well behaved, confident and doing well academically so not like he couldn't manage a line or two. Just feel a bit sad for him as he's chatting away about the parts his friends got. There's nothing I can do really and im obviously not showing him im annoyed

Does not die s lol, please don't be offended.

Yep.

Isn’t it a good lesson in life? Life isn’t always fair and we don’t always get what we want. Teach them resilience, it’s the kindest thing to do in the long run.

You seem to know an awful lot about the other children. I have been to all my dc's productions & can't even remember what my parts my own children had never mind other people's children!
I absolutely would not approach the teacher, they have reasons why each child got the part they did. Don't be that parent. Get your child to practice his course songs at home, celebrate his hard work & contribution to the play.

I absolutely would not approach the teacher, they have reasons why each child got the part they did. Don't be that parent.

They really aren't that deeply thought out most of the time. Audition for any bigger parts sure, but usually there's a couple of dozen random one liner parts or lines of narration doled out to anyone that wants to speak. Quite possibly the reason child didn't get one is teacher didn't realise he wanted one.
Do be that parent - the sort that puts a quiet polite word in to say their child was hoping for a line and if anything comes up could they consider him.

Mentioned to the teacher casually at pick up, she was lovely as I knew she would be. She said most parts were given at random and of course they can add some lines in for my child. He was absolutely thrilled! No one is losing a part or line they are just going to add something in. Im sure it'll be something small but the boost to his confidence and happiness is worth it.
Thanks everyone for your kind words, no idea why some people got so triggered

Perfect outcome , glad it worked out for your child and I’m sure it will give them a lovely memory and confident boost.

This is fantastic news 👏. Good luck to you son on his performance, totally agree with @Honeybeebuzz comment x

Brilliant news, pleased for you! The small things are sometimes the big things, people forget what life is all about.

Easy to forget what life is all about**

Nice one OP, hope your DS enjoys it :)

Seems a bit poor of the school to me. In our schools class productions there are obviously the main parts but every one gets at least a line or two and everyone sings all the songs as well apart from a few short solos for the particularly good/confident singers. And it’s a big school with big classes so your school seems to have even less of an excuse.
Im not sure I’d raise it with them though, unless your son seems particularly upset by it.

edited after seeing your update- well done you for speaking up, glad there was a good outcome!

Well done to you for advocating for your child. Well done to the teacher for putting your child's emotional wellbeing first and ensuring there's a speaking role for him. It's so hard when it feels like children are being left out or pushed aside and sometimes as parents we need to speak up about the smaller things to ensure they don't become bigger things!

Well done Op!

Advocating for your child can be tricky. I have a friend who called school, late primary years, to find out what her child could do to get an end of year prize. What you did was entirely reasonable.

Can this child read? If they can’t then it’s hard for them to be given lines to remember reliably. In our school, reception and year 1 get mostly singing roles, year 2 have lines to recite.

This would annoy me too.

I worked in a school and each phase would do a show at Xmas, a nativity or other Christmas play. A phase covered two school years which at our school was 3 classes so 90 children over two year groups.
every single child had a part, at least one line for their moment on stage. Unless they didn’t want a part then they would help with props etc.
it meant some extra work by staff to split parts up a bit so instead of 1 inn keeper their was maybe 3 etc.
it can be done to include all children.

Maybe your child has a really nice singing voice compared to the others in his class?

Be prepared for the same kids to get parts every year. I don’t know why I bothered sending my kid in as it was the same kids year in/year out all the way through primary school. It was ridiculous. No point saying anything as the mum was head of the PTA and a governor

My daughter was picked for Mary but told the teacher she would rather be part of the donkey. Her friend was Mary and the friend’s sister Angel Gabriel. My youngest was Jesus, I did say I thought a 13 month old should not be Jesus. Part way through Mary fell asleep and her chair fell off the stage. Whilst teachers ran to her aid Jesus took the opportunity to escape, chased by a Shepherd and Angel Gabriel. AG tried to hit him with the shepherds hook, the shepherd fought her for it back. Meanwhile the back end of the donkey had an accidental wee,
Sometimes school events take on a turn of comedy that could not have been written.
Have a cuppa and a mince pie and enjoy it.

It's not too late for the teacher to add a line if your son wants one. They will still have 2 weeks of practice left. 90% of ours don't know their lines yet. Ours are split Y1/2. The Y2s all have a line. The Y1s I asked who wanted a line and made sure everyone who wanted one had one. The others all have a part and come on stage at some point. But don't speak. Chorus is a rubbish way to do it! 100% ask, worst they can say is no. Some teachers get funny about it, but I'm pretty easy going. It takes 2 seconds to write 1 line.

😂which end?

That’s a shame, it’s always nice to see your child participate at some point.

can he speak well publicly? Only as DC school tend to choose the children that re confident enough to speak on stage well, some kids have stage fright and they want to guard against this.

I do get this if course, but then tends to be the same faces again and again. Sometimes others just need a chance.

you could mention he didn’t get a part last year as were told more Yr1s do, but hasn’t this year. Also don’t sweat it, celebrate whatever he got, mine prefer chorus and more fun, social and no pressure to learn lines (and less rehearsals)!

plus teachers are probably given a lot of pressure from many parents.

Maybe he has an important role to play in the chorus of keeping things going, if some of the chorus are younger.
If he's bothered, maybe do something about it. If not then just let him enjoy the play - there's no stress if you don't have lines to say.....

JillMW that sounds like the best nativity ever. * *I'm guessing whoever did the casting had never looked after a 1 yr old 😂