Nursery Christmas play - is this usual or am I just a bit naive?

[Sixofone]

Ok so this is dd's first Christmas at nursery, so forgive me if it's the norm as I am not 100% sure how these things work but..

We had a letter come home the other day saying the children have been practising hard for the Nativity play which is on such and such a date.

If (note the if) your child is selected we'll expect you to make their costume for them. (I am guessing this is the norm.)

And then, if you want to come and watch them, you have to buy a ticket costing 50p each...ermmm excuse me? Is this the same nursery that I am paying £50+ a day for that now wants me to pay for a ticket to go and watch my child in the nativity play?

Is this really the norm? Makes me feel quite sad that they have denigrated it to a moneymaking opportunity when they already charge so much. What are your experiences?

[PortAndLemonaid]

Blimey!

DS's private nursery (it's a daycare-type nursery rather than an attached-to-a-school nursery, but they do some formal-ish learning and plenty of children stay there until they start Reception at school... just as background) does a Christmas play (songs for the younger ones, graduating up in complexity to a full-blown Nativity play for the eldest class) for each class each year in early December. There is free mulled wine and mince pies for the parents, a visit to Father Christmas and gift for each child after the play, and a free 8x10 photograph of each child as a Christmas gift to the parents from the nursery. All the children have a part (some are a bigger named part and some are mice or reindeer or shepherds and so forth, but they all get a role, a costume, and their name on the programme) and the nursery provides all the costumes. Oh, and no charge to attend.

[Hulababy]

DD's nursery never did a nativity, but they did do a little carol/Christmas concert. We didn't pay or need tickets, but it wasr recomennded for only parents to come. And there was no need to wear a costume, although children could take in a hit or something similar to wear. And most importantly IMO all children were involved.

[milliec]

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