AIBU to think a three-hour sports day is too long?

[DriveVerySlowlyPastNumber23IWantThemToSeeMyHat]

AIBU to think a whole school 3 hour sports day is ridiculous?
11am - 2pm.
A range of activities.
DD is in Reception.

I think the length of it is fine but ours is 9-12, kids have picnic lunch with their parents if they’re there or with their teachers if no parents there so it’s just half a day off. We get loads of notice and a lot of parents go but it’s not compulsory.

You don't have to go. The school will hold on to children whose parents don't attend until normal school leaving time, anyone who attends wrap around will also be staying - unless the school are also cancelling wrap around.

If you can, send a grandparent if not just explain to your DC that you cannot attend due to work commitments. Your child won't be the only one in the school without an adult there.

As MN trots out about weddings "Its an invite, not a summons", if it doesn't work for you don't go.

So don't go!

I had to miss all but one of DDs sports days because I had to work. DP went to some of them, grandparents went to a couple, and a few she didn't have anyone at. It's not something with compulsory attendance.

It’s called ‘sports day’. The clue is in the name really.

would be easier not to invite parents tbh

hey won't make the kids do a solid 3 hours of activities on a carousel from 11-2 without having any lunch or any kind of break.

No.

You don’t HAVE to. You’re choosing to.

the date will have been published far in advance and it happens every year and has happened for DECADES, also, parent attendance is not compulsory....

Stop moaning.

So because some parents don't want to go to the effort of seeing their kids at sports day, no parents should be invited?

Don't go. I've never been to a sports day.

Work 9-1, head over for the last part. Take an extended lunch. Back to work for the afternoon.

No, this won't work for everyone, I'm sure some will be there for the whole time and some won't make it at all.

Sports day is one of the best days of the day for lots of the children, even the non sporty ones. And typically a full school day

Sounds normal. Tho ours is usually am and lunch. Or lunch and pm depending on ks1 or ks2

obv parents invited and many turn up. Some don’t

its not about effort... some parents want to go , but just can't . ..

its about logistics really.

if parents weren't invited along, the sports day would run quite happily, with no moaning, no over enthusiastic dads trying to win the dads race, no parents moaning their baby didn't win a prize/wasn't in the relay/didn't get to throw a ball etc

So parents who enjoy going wouldn't get the chance?

Yes, some parents can't go for whatever reason. That doesn't mean nobody should be allowed go.

Don't
Go

?

That's because it's a school. It is to benefit the children.

I agree with you here, well on, that the time slot is shit, they should do a morning or an afternoon, most parents work now. I don’t get the shitty answers of well don’t go then, I’m sure you’d rather be there for your kid or they want you there. But you shouldn’t have to take a full day off.of they did it 1-4 it would be fine. Or 9-12.

Which doesn’t mean they need to not consider the parents, it’s not like the kids need that slot, they don’t give a shit.

School sports day for reception has always been during the school day, as it should be. Why should they consider the parents? They can either use leave or not go. If they made sports day in the evening at reception most kids wouldn't go due to other commitments and bedtime. How would that be fair to the kids? It's a school sports day, of course it's going to be in school hours. Some parents are so up themselves with their own self importance they forget about the whole class of kids.

Did you mis read? No one suggested doing it in the evening. Whay an odd answer. And no one said don’t do in the school day, certainly not me. And of course they should consider thr parents as most kids want their parents there.

... so what if they don't get the chance?

If it's not in the evening when do you suggest they do it? They need to do it in the school day. They carnt call every parent asking what time suits them best because everyone parent will have a different answer They need to do what's best for the school and kids. If that time works best for the school then that's what they need to do because schools have other things to fit in during the day, not just sports day. Schools have a hard enough job making sure they fit everything in for every year group, you carnt expect them to consider random parents in the mix as well

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