I do not like nativity plays

[ZippyPeer]

Went to my first one to watch my daughter, huge discovery that I do not like them. My view:
The play wasn't funny or an interesting story.
An irritating number of sexist stereotypes in the reimagined story - innkeepers wife fgs.
A few kids clearly actively hated being involved - not enjoyable to see them suffering.
Lots of the kids looking exceedingly bored or like they didn't really want to be there.
Reminded me of when I had to perform in them as a child and the literal hours of waiting around doing nothing during rehearsals and on the day and being told to shush and sit still - so boring.
Nice to see my daughter doing her bit and some of the other kids I know, and see the differences in the way the kids were on stage, but like, no where near enough to offset the other stuff...

Probably I won't go again and will leave it to the enthusiasts, but are there other people who feel this way?

Am absolutely bemused by the number of people who seem to love them.

Yabu - do you have no soul, the nativity is delightful
Yabu - it's a pain in the arse we all have to endure

Bloody hell OP, the nativity is the tip of the iceberg in this parenting lark! 😂😂

Who doesn't enjoy their own child's nativity?!?

DS has a non speaking part and I can't wait!

I used to enjoy them. Even if I hadn't I'd still have gone, being a parent is about supporting your kids not being entertained.

Oh, give over, ffs.
You do know when the birth of Jesus actually happened, right?
Or maybe not…

Well I think we’ve found the grinch.

The play wasn't funny or an interesting story
What is it your first experience with the nativity story?

Not sure what level of acting you're expecting from a bunch of kids, but most of them really do enjoy it.

If you don't want to show up for your kid because the acting isnt up to your standard, then don't, you don't need justification from anyone else.

The point is showing up for your child if not yourself. It’s like birthday parties. Not my favourite way to spend 2 hours, but we take ours to those we can because it’s about their socialisation.

I LOVE a nativity! I feel like Christmas has really begun once I've watched a nativity play.

Perhaps your DC's school just isn't very good? The ones I've seen have had a broadly enthusiastic cast and haven't been horrendously sexist. Always a laugh or two as well.

Were you expecting this?

Lol

Or is just a weird tradition we do in Britain that benefits hardly anyone and actually we would be better binning off the whole thing?

The very last time I saw my best friend she had come from her eldest child's nativity play. She was so full of Christmas joy and pride at seeing him in the play.

Within a week she had died of a heart attack. She was only in her early 30s.

Enjoy these things for what they are whilst you can OP.

If you are lucky, one day you'll be an old lady looking back on these happy days and wishing you'd hoovered up every moment.

The innkeeper’s wife could possibly be just another way to get another character in somewhere and in a way where that person could contribute via something they were capable of doing in front of a crowd/trying to sprinkle some laughter through the story?

It's the bible. It's not going to be up to date on sexism lol.

But it wasn't happy. It was tedious (for me) and seemingly quite boring for many of the children (although as I've said previously,maybe some of them were enjoying it really but I don't know them well enough to see it)

a lot of kids love it!

Parents love seeing their own child, and frankly couldn't give 2 monkeys about other children, but that's true of each parent attending, so we all make efforts for the group.

I find it sad that you are so negative about your own child. Are you miffed they were just given the part of a tree or a door, or whatever delightful non-part was invented that year? Sounds like you are😂

I have three DC and one year I went to three nativities (when they were in nursery, reception and year 2). It does get a bit tedious but I disagree with you OP about the children not enjoying it. I mean maybe a couple don't, but most of them loved it IME.

I don’t enjoy sports day either but I go to support my child.
At least at the Nativity they sell mulled wine 👍

absolutely not

Why do you want to remove the experience for the children? Learning, rehearsing, playing in front of an audience? Being confident in public is a life skill, they don't do anywhere near enough in state school, you can't remove what little they do.

You don't build confidence by never doing anything.

Everyone goes for the sake of their kids only.

I was a nativity play enthusiast, then they banned me from being closer than 1000m to a Primary School. So unfair.

Seriously OP, you go because your children are in the play, and they are proud that Mummy (and Daddy and Granny and Uncle Pete) saw them in the play and said how wonderful they were, and in a few years you won't ever get that again if you don't do it now.

People aren't going because they think the dancing is better than at Saddler's Wells.

Also, children look bored all the time. For my kids it was basically the default setting.

Of course they’re boring and, generally, a bit shit. That’s the whole point of them. But the kids (and teachers) work so extremely hard every year to make them happy. I think a lot of children get overwhelmed by the performance itself (DS did) but it’s part of their development. I remember when we were considering deferring DS in Reception and the Deputy Head said that, is his experience, the worst time to start would by January because the nativity play was something that they found was a real bonding experience for the children. It’s not just about the play too, it teaches them so many other important skills as well.

It "benefits" a huge amount of children.
Often their first experience of the theatre world.
Is it that it was a nativity play that you're actually annoyed at?
If it had been "Reception and Key Stage 1 Present Jack and the Beanstalk" would that be ok?

but then parents complain that the PTA helpers who organised, set up and sell the wine reserved their seats, as they sit down at the very last minute, and will tidy up after but still would like to see the play. Can't win 😂

‘Sorry darling, but I shan’t be attending your next school performance. Quite frankly is was a rather dull and amateurish affair and beneath me. When you’re all able to produce a half way professional version of The Seagull let me know and I will consider giving up an evening to attend. The same goes for that god awful racket you make with the school orchestra, and as for your performance at sports day…’

Are you serious? No one goes for the story or the production value. They go to support their child - who will no doubt be rather nervous and desperately hoping their parents will be proud- and to be filled with that warm sense of pride at watching their child perform.

You need to get over yourself and learn to appreciate the little things.