World Book Day

[empee47]

AIBU to say that World Book Day is pointless? Its main purpose is to encourage a love of reading - which I can’t argue with at all - but it’s become all about the costume and nothing about the book. It doesn’t appear to encourage reluctant readers at all. The main focus is now the costume - I think we should be moving away from so much focus on appearance. It causes stress and anxiety for parents and children alike and disengagement from the actual purpose of enjoying a book. Particularly interested in teachers’ views.

My kids have plenty of books, why shouldn't they be allowed a costume as well? Do you tell anyone who buys anything fun they should buy a book instead?

We are right at the beginning. Our toddler is going as the hungry caterpillar. Green tshirt, green leggings and some fruit i cut out of an amazon box and painted. Hes loved helping to make it, hopefully he will wear it but he is very defiant at the moment.

Honestly after reading some of the homework threads on here I'm not at all surprised that many parents can't be arsed. There seems to be a poor attitude in general towards learning at home. Reading rates are shocking. So are the number of homes where children don't own books.

@MssngvwaIsthats a REALLY good point!! My son is saucepan man - easiest costume ever! Although we mentioned to a couple of parents and they had no idea who that was!!

Our school used to do either dress up, wear something comfy or uniform.

Unfortunately they've changed it to a compulsory decorating of a potato.

Not even asked them to bring in fave books, which is a shame as that was always a great way to get ideas for new reads from each other.

Depends on the school I think. We’ve got book related activities for next 2 days in school including turning book extracts into raps and creating book marks. Children can come to school in a costume or pyjamas. All staff dress up too. Our PTA collect outgrown costumes in weeks beforehand and sell for £1. The kids seem to love it!

It’s such a ridiculous concept.
In the 90s school took you to the library and gave you a book boucher. Now the over the top costume nonsense not only just brings added parental stress but it ends up just totally diluting the point of world book day with a class full of princesses, buzz lightyears and K-pop demon hunters!

My children love WBD and so for that reason so do I. It encourages reading, they’ve designed and made their own costumes and it brings a lot of joy to my household.

I do suspect that many of those who hate it are also the ones who also complain about homework, any effort by the PTA, or nightly reading…

So pleased I don’t have to do this shit anymore. It is pointless, people buy crappy supermarket outfits and it puts the pressure on those who can’t afford to buy. Surprised so many schools still support this given it has just turned in to a money making spin. Schools would be better off doing a pyjama day instead to promote reading before bed time which would removed all the grief thinking of to wear.

We love it, my two girls loved taking their vouchers into the shop to pick a new book, we read a lot all together anyway but it’s nice to open up an opportunity to read new books.

the costumes don’t have to be high effort, it is what you make it

I hate world book day
No dressing up but must wear pj's to school
And design a puppet, I didn't even know that needed to be done. Only seeing this thread prompted me to check my emails as my children haven't said anything.
I like reading as does my partner but none of our children have picked up the reading bug

Dressing as a word this year, mine wants to go in PJs and will be the word "dream" or "sleep" etc.

I foresee a lot of football kits (sporty), superhero costumes (heroic), glittery dresses (sparkly), maybe a few Disney Princess dresses (regal), and Harry Potter costumes (magic).

I am grateful my school never do anything that would place too much strain on parents. It is "dress as you like" day, and there will be a mix of costumes (any), pjs, play clothes and PE clothes. The also asked for donations of old dressing up costumes, so have some free for anyone who wants one.

They do get into the book day spirit, with a book swap. Again, they asked for donations, and every child can choose a book regardless of whether they donated or not.

They are looking forward to it.

Plenty of kids won't have proper or decent pajamas in poorer areas. At least WBD they can come in their normal clothes

people are genuinely finding any old ‘book’ which isn’t really the point

Like Spider-Man. Totally NOT a book

Comic???? That is reading material???

It was literally made into a film from a comic book. And it is of course now books also. So totally is a book and long running comic

Were I still at the chalkface and teaching in Primary, I would say I'm The Invisible Man and stay under the duvet!
It sounds as though it was a good idea, getting more children reading, but it's probably the parents who have turned it into a costume competition. If they were to ignore all the commercial crap in the shops and one line, it would disappear, no manufacturer wants to be left with a load of unwanted plastic. Maybe a bit more imagination and less instagram perhaps?

Children wearing it these days have probably never read it as a comic book. Plus I don’t class comic books as books anyway!

I agree this concerns me too. However I always make sure I pass the costumes on...my son's costume is going to a mum at the school I know for her little boy when he gets bigger and I'll give my daughters costume to another mum I know. They will make use of them and it makes me feel better!

I used to love world book day, and school was strict about costumes needing to be book characters and not (predominantly) TV characters! It was the 90s though. At drop off this morning it was a sea of Spiderman costumes....

I wouldn't mind it now but there's too many other home clothes/wear something yellow/ dress up days. Who can be bothered. I would prefer that everyone just brings in their favourite book to share with the class!

Of course plenty of them have, mine have. And the books. You not liking Spider-Man or comics is irrelevant really

Of course, but the kids aren't reading comics, they are watching Spidey and friends brain rot.

Blah blah blah moan moan moan

Just let the kids have a fun day.

The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage a love of reading, but it now seems to focus more on costumes.
This can create unnecessary stress for parents and children.
Schools should focus more on reading activities rather than appearance.