AIBU to think first day of primary school celebrations are excessive?

[EineyMiney]

Hi, we live in Scotland so today was DSs first day of school, starting primary 1. I’m just home from dropping him off and I can’t help but think what a circus!
We didn’t do anything special, just a normal school morning, no balloons, DH didn’t take the morning off, no grandparents came over. I was really trying to make sure DS wasn’t overwhelmed.
However, when I dropped DS off, there were multiple families with both parents, younger siblings, grandparents at the gate getting pictures. The school did say only 2 parents in the classroom but even this felt like too many and I’m not sure why it couldn’t be one parent per child.
In addition to that I noticed almost all the children had the bloody expensive optional blazers! Why? They are only 4 or 5!
Then I got home opened instagram and now I’m seeing plenty of children with balloons saying first day of school!

AIBU to think this is totally excessive and not necessary and probably not even good for the children who are just going to be overwhelmed.

What is an optional blazer?

They don’t all ignore it. But enough do that it adds extra people in an already tight area when emotions are high for many as it is. Staff want to be able to focus on the children no restricting adult numbers!

You are right OP, unnecessary. By all means take pictures yourself of them at home. Even at the gate. But everyone turning up? It is too much.

Reminds me of A and E when I took my elderly mother once. Whole families and supporting cast talking into their phones ‘ we are at A and E’ etc. The injured person surrounded by a cast of six or seven relatives. Not just one family like it either. All taking pictures on their phones.

I had to take her back the next day. But overnight it had snowed.
There was nobody there bar me and mum. And one or two others.

All OTT.

It’s nuts - performative nonsense for social media and nothing to do with the child

A blazer that is optional, I mean what else could it possibly mean other than the obvious?

The balloons are overwhelm. It's a lot for little kids.

The blazers baffle me given I don't think I've ever seen a child at our primary school wearing one except for the first day and for school photos. Seems a lot of money to spend for a photo accessory - even if they're being passed on, someone's buying them new.

My youngest started school in 2020 so the one concession to covid restrictions was that we were allowed in the playground to drop them off on their first day. No parents in the school, and from that afternoon we were spread out with everyone else on the field for collection, and dropping at the gate of the playground the next morning. The consensus seemed to be that it was much better for getting the kids to settle than all the fuss.

We went the four of us as a family, got a lovely photo of the four of us, got some pics of DD1 with her nursery pals who were also starting. No balloons though!

Mine are P6/S3 now but it wasn't anything like that for them. Was taken aback by the intensity of the P7 leaving palaver though. Sooo many things, so much drama, so much crying.

We have the P1s in for an hour on day 1 and 1 parent allowed in (and none when my son started re covid - which I actually preferred! So much easier to just keep it casual and happy at the door and wave them in). I have no idea why so many people were crying - I was excited for them (not cause I don't love them! They were at nursery since 1 anyway so it's not like that was any different and they were both well ready for school).

Oh and no parents going inside, I don’t really understand that part, why would you have parents going inside the classrooms? DD1 and the other P1s were taken in by their new teacher.

No phased settling either thank goodness! Although they start 30 mins later the first week to avoid playground chaos.

I didn't understand crying when mine went obviously it was before social media, but crying about "their babies" in the playground baffled me and made me think i was a bit cold!

It does all seem a bit OTT these days with everyone wanting their Insta pics of first day. Just as bad are the ceremonies when they finish every step of education now. I've had a friend posting pics of her DC 'graduating' from nursery and the kids were decked out in caps and gowns and given certificates.

Long setting periods are optional. Parents are legally entitled to send their DC’s full time from day one. With two working parents, not everyone can or wants to do this.

I think OP should have bought one of these & filled it with sweets for her DS. These cones make fantastic insta pics!!

Didn't post the image... 🙄

Totally performative imo. My DS started school last year and I just dropped him off like a normal school day. Yes, it's a big step, but I didn't want to make him feel more nervous/anxious/unsure by creating a massive fuss about it with balloons, banners, grandparents attending, etc. I took a few photos of him in his uniform but that was it.

I also don't get the posts some people put up saying they are distraught about their DC starting school. I did get a bit sad at the thought of my youngest starting school, but I wasn't a sobbing wreck about it. Weird!

Performative rubbish for social media, poor kids. Why not just take a photo at home before they leave and another one when they come home like we did in olden days? For sensitive children this sort of carry on must be ovewhelming and add to any worries they may be having. i remember mine loved nursery but found the change to infants difficult at first and a load of hoo ha like this would not have helped. Poor school staff as well having to contend with it

There’s no normal life events left that escape becoming a huge event with balloons etc to be plastered all over social media. Once one parent does it, others don’t want to feel like bad parents for not doing the same, so then most people do it and it becomes normalised.

Absolutely awful. Like degree ceremonies when children leave nurseries and proms.

Nonsense all of it.

I was bloody cheering. Then it dawned on them they had to go every day and it became utterly miserable.

DH and I both took ds to his first day of school, no balloons or insta photos, but it was a big step for him and we both wanted to be there for it. We just walked him to the door gave him a kiss and he walked in. I don't think it's a fanfare to have a dad who is involved

I was in a play park (in Scotland) a few weeks ago and a young girl was having a primary one themed professional photoshoot done in the park! Obviously so that the mum can share the pictures on instagram this morning or whenever the girl started school. She was dressed up in her school uniform with a kids easel and other teacher/school type props 😵‍💫

No it is totally insane. Our primary school didn't allow mobile phones on site ....so people would be told to put them away. Parents aren't allowed in classrooms either; drop off it to outside door of the unit and kids are whisked inside quickly by staff. Sounds anxiety inducing for kids and parents.

I loved my kids nursery graduations. I think it’s actually better to have some celebrating whilst you’re all young energetic and enthusiastic because it won’t be long before you’re all old bitter and cynical and will find something to complain about at any event. There is such a lovely excitement to 4 year olds

My children both started school in Germany and as a Brit I didn‘t join in with the Fuss and Carry on.My husband was there but we didn‘t invite the grandma or anything like that. Both times it was unbearably hot, which is what I remember. It doesn’t seem to have done them any lasting harn