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.

Why don't you just go along after lunch, so you can work half a day and still get her at 2pm?

Did you not consider when she started school that she’d have a sports day? What were your expectations?

Wait until it’s rearranged at short notice because it rains. 😂

Don’t go then? My mum never came to sports day coz she was working. I survived.

So don't go then.

My kids have an assembly once a year and a sports day, I do one, husband does the other, granny attends a couple of smaller bits

Yes? Young children have a lot of energy and 3 hours of running about is nothing for them.

My DH and I both work full time. One year he took sports day off, the next year I did, the next year we didn't go, and so on. I took three days off that covered the entire time my DCs were at primary school 🤷‍♂️

It's not even a full day, that's not long.

Lots of parents can't make events like sports day, mine couldn't. Just don't go if you can't.

And then be told on Tuesday that is moved again to the Thursday afternoon, and then, be told on Wednesday morning that it's moved to the Thursday morning, and then Wednesday evening be told it's actually going to Friday.

I agree that is a really shit and awkward slot for a sports day - just no need for it to straddle both halves of the day. And do the kids not get lunch?

At my school, it is one hour for one half of the school, then one hour for the other half. Finished by lunch. If it rains (fingers crossed), they do it indoors with no spectators. Year round, they are constantly outdoors and doing sports, but sports day itself is pretty low key.

When I was growing up, it was one hour max for the whole school.

This is also true!

Don’t go then. Who’d be a teacher, eh?

I have to attend a 3 hour one for ks1 and another the next day for ks2!

Ours starts with picnic lunch at 12pm and ends when the school day ends at 3:30pm.

It’s too long! It’s always absolutely roasting and the kids are all in the sun baking and parents are too hot and it’s really boring.

Sports day usually lasts the full school day, so no this doesn't seem too long at all.

I'm a working parent too and will attend when I can, but usually it's for an hour or two and I will go back to work. My children understand 'mummy will be there for XYZ races, then I need to go back to work but I will hear all about it later.' Some parents don't go at all, some send grandparents, some get a friend to snap a few photos.

This isn't about your job, this is about the children having a fun, active day that's different from their usual routine.

Nothing stopping you just going for an hour.

My DH and I used to take it in turns so never went together but one of us would go for some of it.

When mine were little I would go for an hour or two DH would go to cover an hour or two, if neither of us could go I would mention to a friend and they would cheer my children on and I would return the favour another time. Children are quite able to understand that mum or dad can’t always be there and that susie’s mum/dad will cheer on

these days my son and DIL find it difficult to attend all the time so I’m more than happy to step in for them, I have them 3 days a week after school anyway

Effort? How about the parents are putting in effort to house clothe and feed their kids?? But more important than a bean bag race

It's 3 hours of annual leave. If you don't want to do it... don't. But that doesn't mean other parents should have to miss out.

If you get paid annual leave.

And where have I said other parents have to miss out?

Even if you don't get paid annual leave... you know well in advance.

I never said you said other parents have to miss out. But you are responding to a full thread of comments about not inviting parents.... context is everything!

Fucking hell no one can win here, OP don’t go then?! 3 hours is literally nothing for sports day - for a whole school.

So you can afford to lose wages to watch a beanbag race lol. Instead your kids don't eat. Nice one.

So if I didn't say about other parents missing out why repeat it? I read it before

Oh, are the kids supposed to have sports day in the rain to appease a few parents?

If you can't afford to take unpaid leave... don't fucking go. It's quite simple.

So if I didn't say about other parents missing out why repeat it? I read it before
It's the entire context of my comments... duhhh