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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Princess dressing up in reception

88 replies

jackierussell · 30/11/2015 17:18

This is a bit of an AIBU, we are getting increasing uncomfortable with the amount of dressing up as Disney princesses that seems to be happening in our daughters reception class, the class is small and comprises 80% girls. The teacher has already made several comments about them being a group with lots of strong characters, and it seems a lot of their play involves dressing up a a princess and/or arguing about who is wearing what. We haven't banned princess stuff at home but don't try to encourage it and all the talk about who was which princess at school is making me feeling queasy! I also feel it is quite excluding for the boys in the class. Is princess dressing up every day common in reception, I can't help but feel that the dressing up could be tailored to the half term topic, down played or based on more every day roles. Fair enough if they have to play princesses but why give them the Disney style dresses? I am also concerned that it is not helping with the class dynamics.

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PowerPantsRule · 30/11/2015 22:41

It's not a terribly modern role model for a girl though is it? Are we really stuck in the 1950s? Why not put a Girls' World in the class room and let them practice doing their make up too? Agree with you OP, it's naff and old fashioned.

TurnOffTheTv · 30/11/2015 23:02

It's not a role model though. It's four year olds getting dressed up in things they like.

Original poster

jackierussell · 30/11/2015 23:18

Hazeyjane thanks those ideas are good, creating costumes rather than putting on the supermarket generic princess jobs would be preferable.

OP posts:

Original poster

jackierussell · 30/11/2015 23:24

Sparkly it more the fact that it's in school and seems to be everyday a few comments have mentioned pre school , I didn't have a problem with this in preschool but do feel it's a bit of a cop out at school, yes it can be argued that they like it so just let them, but why not challenge them more, if it had to be a princess thing then make it up from bits and pieces, think up new princesses not just blooming Belle and Co. I am hearted that there is a mix of opinions I don't think i am out of order to feel that it's not great and I will have a go at getting a donation sorted.

OP posts:

PowerPantsRule · 01/12/2015 00:03

Completely agree OP. It's just DULL! And I loathe the Disneyfication of it.

TesticleOfObjectivity · 01/12/2015 00:16

Sorry to go away from the topic slightly but is dressing up part of the curriculum now? I've just turned 28 so I'm not that old but we never did dressing up at my school. There weren't any costumes there, or at home for that matter - I dont know anyone who had a dressing up costume actually. Is this what schools do now? Or maybe my childhood was more deprived than I realised!

sharoncarol43 · 01/12/2015 00:17

I find it a strange thing to get upset over its a non issue as far as I can see, completely harmless.

VagueIdeas · 01/12/2015 00:29

Not curriculum as such, but the Early Years Foundation Stage covers preschool and Reception, so there's a big crossover between the two.

Out2pasture · 01/12/2015 02:16

not so much old fashioned as totally lacking in imagination. I envision; safari hats and binoculars, a bumblebee; top hat and tails, a riding hat and boots....
playing princess isn't much different than playing house it just doesn't develop much at all.

mrz · 01/12/2015 06:39

It's considered very good practice to include role play areas in an early years classrooms (and yes reception is early years). It's also considered very good practice to provide activities and resources that reflect children's interest.

Fairy tales are even a feature of the new national curriculum so you may find princesses popping up in Y1 and Y2

Kennington · 01/12/2015 06:49

It is harmless but seems silly to do it at school if it is only going to cause arguments.
I am always banging on to my daughter that princesses are nice but they do nought and she won't be one when she is older because she will need to get a job and we aren't royalty.

mouldycheesefan · 01/12/2015 06:50

Donating a load of other costumes would solve the problem. Organise it yourself. Job done.

mrz · 01/12/2015 07:02

Is role play about aspiring to be the character or using your imagination?

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/12/2015 07:07

Don't see a problem.

they are putting on a dress and using their imaginations. .they are not being made to fulfil the role of their costume.

it's also open for boys and girls.they can wear what they like. I've seen boys at nursery where a princess dress and a fireman helmet. girls will wear spiderman.

meditrina · 01/12/2015 07:08

"Is role play about aspiring to be the character or using your imagination?"

Either or both.

But it can limiting if it is the same thing every single time. And if (as might be the case here) it is creating difficulties in social dynamics, then something needs to change.

And there's nothing whatsoever wrong with encouraging pupils to try new stuff at school.

AuntieStella · 01/12/2015 07:10

"I've seen boys at nursery where a princess dress and a fireman helmet. girls will wear spiderman."

I don't think OP would have started the thread if there had been good availability of non-princess items. I thought she was trying to remove obstacles to a wider range of play.

mrz · 01/12/2015 07:20

With 80% girls in a class it's unlike there are enough princess costumes for all who wish to dress up which is likely to cause friction.

AuntieStella · 01/12/2015 07:24

OP does not mention a shortage of princess costumes.

Her complaint is that dress up is repeatedly dominated by princesses and that they have Disney costumes (not a lack of them).

BoboChic · 01/12/2015 07:31

Calm down! Dressing up as fairy tale and imaginary characters is an absolutely standard part of early childhood. My own DD spent a lot of time dressed in a tutu or princess dress. She famously attended a school dress up day as a bride when she was 4 .

She is now a normal 11 year old who wears jeans and trainers to school.

School uniforms are far more harmful to development than princess dresses.

AuntieStella · 01/12/2015 07:33

Bobo, I hope you realise that posters are all in favour of this type of dress-up, and just support the idea of a wider range of costumes than all-Disney.

tobysmum77 · 01/12/2015 07:38

I'd just chill op. At the start of reception dd loved princess costumes. I started to gently point out the negatives of such attire, in relation to tree climbing etc. Dd decided that being a princess didn't sound like much fun just hanging around looking pretty waiting for a prince. The barbies were also chucked into a box looking naked and sad.

By the end of reception she had a face on her when she had to put a princess dress on for a party. These days (she's in year 2) there is no way I'd ever get her in one, the only dressing up outfit she'll wear is a dragon.

Pipbin · 01/12/2015 07:46

not so much old fashioned as totally lacking in imagination. I envision; safari hats and binoculars, a bumblebee; top hat and tails, a riding hat and boots....

Ok. Just ask the teachers to pull those costumes out of their magic arses then. Schools do not have the money to buy dressing up costumes. They have to wait for donations. If princess dresses get donated then that's what they have.

Fwiw we had some dress up in my reception class for a short while. It gave one boy the chance to wear a princess dress that his parents didn't allow.

I don't like princess dresses either but if all you can get is princesses or Spider-Man then that's what you go with.

mrz · 01/12/2015 07:58

I'm aware that the OP didn't say there was a shortage of princess costumes but she did say 80% of the class are girls ...it wiuld be an unusual school to have enough costumes available for all ... From experience any popular resource causes friction

Pipbin · 01/12/2015 08:03

And everyone wanting the same thing, no matter what it is, teachers children to take turns, negotiate, manage expectations, resolve conflict........

jellyfrizz · 01/12/2015 08:09

I taught reception last year, we had princesses of both sexes, also bug finding, super hero powered, climbing and jumping princesses.

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