Infants - Christmas cards? I was shocked last year - not going to join in

[bacon]

DS1 last year was in reception and from the start of December started to get christmas cards from the individual members of the class. All written by the mums.

I was a bit taken aback really as I certainly wasnt going out to buy more cards and spend the evening writing out 30 cards and signing my son's name.

Again, now in year 1, I have no intention of going with the flow as I always think the card thing has gone out of hand anyway.

My little fella is a popular and social member of the class I'm not going to join in with this until he is old enough to write his own and buy his own!!!

As a christian family we love christmas and wish everyone a happy one but why this sudden consumerism with cards at such a young age? Whose blinkin idea was this? when did this start?

ANyone else who doesnt join in?

Ragged - we always get the Next charity cards. I think they are £2.50/£3.00 for 30 but there's always a 3 for 2 offer on cards, wrap etc. Great if you have 3 dcs!

Awww I think it's nice :) You can get packs of kid friendly cards in ASDA. DS is still in nursery so I ask his nursery nurses who his friends are (all girls lol!). I'll also be sending a card to each child in my class.

This started in nursery for us. I was a bit .

Last January I stocked up on all the reduced, small Xmas cards so DS can hand them out in reception. I'm going to get him to write his name in all of them.

You think Reception children don't notice cards? You have never worked in a school then as they LOVE them- and they are often the source of tears if lost or mixed up with another childs.

I think we got about 30 for £1.50. DS1 wrote them all in reception. No big deal. Not sending them doesn't make you virtuous and praise-worthy. I think that most kids like getting cards through the internal school post.

Ha, ha, they don't notice cards???? See that flying pig over there?

They get so excited at receiving the cards, mine insist they go up in their own bedrooms rather than in our living room. (They also have their own mini Christmas trees)

Do you mean that your son is in year 1 and cannot write his name or even have a credible attempt? I think it is excellent writing practice and they don't have to do it on one single day, they can spread it out over weeks. If you have any Christmas cards left from last year he can already start now, or he can first make his own card and then write. Most kids love doing it.

DD was in nursery last year (attached to the reception class she's in this year.) They used Christmas cards as a teaching tool. The teachers printed a list of the 15 children who were in her nursery group and "homework" was to encourage the children to write their own names in the cards.

I wrote on the envelopes, wrote DD's name inside the card and encouraged her to copy it. DD LOVES getting any kind of post, (even my bills are thrilling) so I'm sure she'll be more than happy to write her name 15 times.

My kids love making, writing and sending Christmas cards to their friends (can't be bothered to do them for relatives but I make them). We just did friends but quite a few people did the whole class. I don't think anyone notices who gets them - my dd certainly didn't pick up on who had and hadn't sent her one - so it is fine not to participate.

Mine love to write out and receive cards.

I only buy the little square ones from Aldi which are £1 for 20

I remember sending them out when I was very young - its certainly not a new tradition.

I have no objection to xmas cards in any year. They are cheap to buy, the children love writing them and they love getting them. My Dd's school has an internal post system and it makes their day to get a card from a classmate.
My Dd changed schools last year just before Christmas, she really missed her old friends for a few weeks and I appreciated the Christams card "distraction" for a few evenings as she was working her way through a class list (Year 2) and she was so thrilled when she got cards.
Equally, if you decide not to participate, it is fine as the children do not hold lists in their minds....unlike us adults!!

but yy, get them to make their own if you don't want to fork out a couple of quid, and get them to do the signing/ writing.

but i think in this instance it's perfectly acceptable to bow to peer cprssure and let them take part in such an all consuming activity. tbh, your kids will probably get cards even if you can't be bothered to write them, but they do miss out on the joy of giving, and the thrill of putting their own cards into the post box before the delivery. buy charity cards if it makes you feel better. recycled ones.

how does your ds feel? my dc love it and get excited by the whole thing.

I would be worried if your Y1 child wasn't capable of writing his name in a card for friends.

Oh brilliant, thanks for the Asda tip. I need to go there Thursday anyway. :)

Is good writing practice, agree with all who said that. Writing their own name on card & recipient's name on envelope, too.

I hate the card thing as an adult but send them anyway to elderly relatives etc. Kids love them though. Agree that Poundland has some bargains - would always want my dcs to feel comfortable so buy them.

You wouldn't want to be at our school then op. As well as cards the done thing seems to be to put a lollipop/choc tree dec in each card. Some even wrap up little trinkets and sellotape them to the cards!! I've got 2 so 60 cards plus treats works out quite ££. I refused to do this and just allowed them to send cards much to their moaning. Where and when on earth did all that start? You want to see the kids coming out of school tearing open the envelopes looking for a sweet not even looking at the card and not being very impressed at any that on had a card.

Fair enough when they can actually write, but pretty stupid when its nursery/reception kids - cards from children who can't write for children who can read!

I meant children who CAN'T read obv

My dd can't read a book but she loves having one read to her.
She'd be even more thrilled if that book was given to her by a friend.

...and what if they never learned to read? They shouldn't ever give or receive Christmas cards? Humbug!

Lots of children in Reception are able to write- or at least write their name and read a simple Love from ........! I think you are grossly underestimating of 5 year olds!

Both DS and DD wrote and could read their own Christmas cards in reception. Asked them today (now in year 3 and year 1) if they will be sending some christmas cards this year and they both will. Sounds like it will be mainly to girls for DD and to boys for DS. Given the fact that both classes have more boys than girls this will probably be harder work for DS

I too hate cards of any kind!

Hasn't it always been like this? I used to love getting cards from all my classmates when I was at primary school, and that was 25 years ago. There were always a couple of children who didn't join in though, but we still sent them cards. It's a harmless and fun tradition, and I always loved writing my cards, and receiving them. The whole point of writing a card to everyone was so that the children who might not have many friends felt included.

I also dislike it when people make a point of saying they are giving money to charity instead of sending cards - especially those who email everyone to boast about their selflessness.

Think its ridiculous, jumping on consumerism bandwagon. if you must, just send a biggish card to whole class.

come and join us, come and join us.....

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/a1326458-The-I-hate-Christmas-cards-but-love-Christmas-support-thread-now-open#28096011

coccyx, ninani, you are women after my own whatsit!