Father’s Day

[ColaOlaLa]

With Father’s Day coming up soon if you children’s father isn’t involved then what do you do about the card making at school for Father’s Day? Do you warn the school in advance? I always find it really awkward this time of the year, I wish they would get rid of the whole card making, surely they realise not all kids have fathers (or even mothers) in their lives

Schools tel the children the card is for someone special - uncle grandfather or even genial relatives.
They don’t insists it’s a Father’s Day card.

Kids like making cards - you are over thinking it.

We don’t really have anyone else they could make it for? No uncles etc

The cards definitely say Father’s Day as they made one before which said “daddy is my super hero” “love daddy so much” this was when they had just started school so I wasn’t prepared for it

This is the card that my daughter came out with so not sure how that isn’t a fathers day card? It was very awkward when she had no one to give it to and asked why she had no dad to give it to.

We don’t have uncles/grandads etc, surely kids with absent fathers shouldn’t be given Father’s Day cards to make

I often think this about children doing cards for Mother's/Father's day. There must be loads of children in this position.

I would hope it's presented as 'Make a card for someone special' by the teacher, as Bluebells has said. But it clearly wasn't on the last occasion for you if your children had written those things on their cards, although I guess your kids may have just been copying their friends and not thought much of it.

I'd potentially either have a quick word with their teachers over the next week or so and just say they're happy to make a card still but can presented as for dad or somebody special in their lives, instead of just dad. OR alternatively I'd have a casual word with your children and say if they get asked to make a card at school you'd love it if they made one for you/nanny/auntie/family friend or even each other, whoever, instead. Or both!

I do think it's a bit insensitive if children are specifically directed to make cards for mothers day/fathers day with no alternatives.

@ColaOlaLa

This is the card that my daughter came out with so not sure how that isn’t a fathers day card? It was very awkward when she had no one to give it to and asked why she had no dad to give it to.

We don’t have uncles/grandads etc, surely kids with absent fathers shouldn’t be given Father’s Day cards to make

Oh wow, yeah that's an actual print out.

In this case I'd definitely have a quick chat with the teacher over the next week or so and just give her a head's up that your kids' dad isn't in the picture and they were a bit upset after being given that to colour in last year. I'm sure they'll be happy to do alternatives too.

Yes she didn’t want to be the only one not doing one but as you can see that is a print out that has been stuck on and she’s coloured in, not something that she’s written herself, my sons one was pictures of super heroes cut out and stuck on with “daddy is my super hero” again cut and stuck on, they go along with it so that they aren’t the only children not doing one but when they came out they were upset about it , it’s nice that some children have father figures it can be given to instead but that’s not the case for us.

@ColaOlaLa

Yes she didn’t want to be the only one not doing one but as you can see that is a print out that has been stuck on and she’s coloured in, not something that she’s written herself, my sons one was pictures of super heroes cut out and stuck on with “daddy is my super hero” again cut and stuck on, they go along with it so that they aren’t the only children not doing one but when they came out they were upset about it , it’s nice that some children have father figures it can be given to instead but that’s not the case for us.

Totally agree and I'm quite surprised that schools would still do this tbh, given the amount of children who have sporadic (if any) contact with either the mum/dad, might have lost mum/dad or be raised by grandparents or whoever, not to mention the rise of same-sex parents etc.

My daughters nursery have already told me they'll be doing arts and crafts for me instead which I'm completely OK with and I know DD will be too, 😍

That's actually really insensitive for them still to be doing it that way!! I'd definitely speak to the school

Poor teaching from school. Drop them an email in advance reminding them that this caused problems for your child.

(Ex early years teacher)

I agree the school should definitely give alternatives as it's very insensitive especially if there's a bereavement. The card could be for the biggest male influence in her life right now, doesn't matter whether he's a relation or not. A male friend, neighbour, favourite teacher, any male she thinks is wonderful