PARENTS: Please don't ruin the nativity plays by filming all the way through them.

[Spidermama]

This year I've decided to speak out in the hope that I may be able to get through to some people.

Every year it's been getting worse. Why do parents insist on ruining the live event of a nativity play by filming or taking pictures throughout. It really upsets me and I see how uncomfortable it makes the kids.

You wouldn't do this at the threatre. Put the gadgets away and enjoy the live event.

You can't capture it on film anyway.

I agree.

Even when I have been a newbie with a camcorder, I soon realised that it was much better seeing the play in real rather than behind a viewfinder. It is horrible for others when their view is obscured by someone's waving camera.

An idea is to get someone in school to film it from the back, using a tripod, and then to sell DVDs in aid of PTA funds.

What upsets me is when half the audience leave once their DC's bit is finished - i.e the yr 1s do their play immediately followed by the Yr 2s - but all the Yr 1 parents bugger off leaving half a hall of people. V disruptive and disheartening for the kids (IMHO anyway)

Good idea mindthegappp. I'm probably too late to suggest this to the school but might anyway for next year.

I've been going to four nativity plays a year for the last decade and this may well be my last proper cute infant school one. I don't want to spend it fuming.

My kids have told me they felt nervous with all the cameras pointed at them, paparazzi style. I wish schools would sort this out and lay down the law.

That is a good idea Mindthegapp.

I totally agree by the way, it is incredibly rude.

I went to a Jessie J concert with my dd a couple of weeks ago and she asked if, for just one song, they could all lower their filming gadgets so we could have it 'just between us' (ie not on youtube or facebook). It was really great.

our school asks for now cameras except for the official person teacher who is filming for the school website. they let you take pics of the children at the end.

no cameras

I wish there were more schools like yours cherry.

The school I work at doesn't allow cameras either. We have the nativity plays filmed and then sell the dvd (think it's about £4 - so not prohibitively expensive) - tbh even having just one person filming them makes the children act differently (though the school is only rec - yr2 - so they're very little).

Our school doesn't allow cameras. There is always an announcement at the beginning that there are no cameras allowed during the production and they will allow time for pictures afterwards.

Surely better all round to have one professionally filmed DVD then everyone can relax also I would LOVE to get a proper old fashioned picture of all the children in their outfits (class photo style) where the children are lined up properly in rows and the picture is well composed. The sort you will keep in a frame forever.

If lots of us ask maybe they will change? [hopeful]

Our school film the last dress rehersal and then sell a DVD to you after the event. It is a far better way as there is no audience to distract the little ones.

I hate to say I will probably be filming some or all of Ds(8) school play, the school have only allowed 2 tickets per child, therefore DD(14) is really upset she can't go as are two sets of grandparents also upset. The only way they can see DS perform is if I film it.

Surprised you are allowed to film - every school I have worked at has not allowed photos/filming during performance. One school then let parents take photos of their own children/other children if they had permission at the end of the performance. That worked well. Also have done what sleepyspaniel suggests with the photo, which was good too. Have also worked at places who have filmed it and then sold copies as fund raisers.

Personally, watching or getting children ready to perform I prefer there not to be photos taken/filming. It is really distracting for the children, especially when the flash inevitably goes.

I agree, also
stop rustling freakin' sweet wrappers,
stop talking just because your child has done their bit,
stop queueing for a month to sit at the front every single year.

I actually think the best money making scheme ever for schools would be to raffle off the front seats at plays.

I also think they should take an idividual photo of all of the children dressed up and make it into a christmas card, then sell it.

I have filmed loads of my dc plays over the years. We have to sign a piece of paper to say it will be for family use only but that's all. Not many take actual photos during performances but those of us that film just stand at the back or to the side so we don't get in the way.

Ds1 has just left primary school and his class did Joseph which I filmed and then out on to a disc for the teacher which she appreciated.

If they did get someone to film and sell it on to us I would be happy with that. I do it so I can show grandparents as we only get 2 tickets for a performance.

I have never noticed the kids behaving differently because of the cameras etc

At my dd's xmas concert last week some daft mother thought it was a good idea to film with her fecking ipad. Not in the least subtle, those of us behind her had to watch through her screen and she was semi standing up to do it half of the time. grr.

It's very off-putting to have someone stood next to you or behind you filming because you can't slag off the headteacher and his arselickey speech at the end thanking whichever teacher pressed the play button on the CD player for the kids to sing along to

I film my kids as my husband is a teacher and will never be able to see any performance of any of our children. I would never stand up though. The kids aren't fazed at all. Cameras are so ever present in their lives. Teachers film and photograph them for assessments. They have grown up with camera phones .
I would love to have a professional DVD though.

I'll be filming this year again as DD asked for it. She loves to watch it later over and over again at home.. I always go and stand in the back row though. I love the idea of professional dvd, will suggest that on the next pta meeting

Everything now is ruined by people's obsession with filming stuff just because they can. Go to any gig and there are people filming it rather than watching it. God, I would have had to make very loud comments about the ipad woman