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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

Infant school - easter hat competition - 1 prize per class - opinions please....

42 replies

Kbear · 07/03/2007 20:26

Prizes or not? Some parents saying it shouldn't be a competition, it should be a parade.

I got collared by an angry parent (who knew I helped organise the Christmas Fair so assumed I organised this but I didn't) who was up in arms about there being a prize for the winning hat in each class.

Another mum said she hadn't thought about it being a problem, life is competitive and it won't do them any harm to strive to win once in a while.

Other mum said she thought the school should be non-competitive. Sports day is mildly competitive - they play in teams but no individual races.

She's off to see the head etc etc...

I can't see the harm myself but this woman was livid.

Opinions please.

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colditz · 07/03/2007 20:29

Nothing wrong with having a prize, but the children should be made to make the hat themselves, or a flower arranger's daughter will win it. And prizes should really be given on the basis of time and effort spent. Because there is always one kids in the class who gets no home encouragement, and who once in a blue moon will really try - and I think to have that effort noticed by the teacher and the class would be brilliant.

Original poster

Kbear · 07/03/2007 20:35

colditz - forgot about the mums who won't let the kids make it themselves and take over completely!!

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Original poster

Kbear · 07/03/2007 20:36

God, we've only just over book week and now there will be loads of easter hat threads!

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Hulababy · 07/03/2007 20:39

DD's class are having an easter bonnet parade and as far as I am aware there are no prizes. All the children in PP1 (reception) have to make their bonnets by themselves with limited help from a grown up.

I think the good thing with no prizes is because when these projects are done at home the teachers can't judge whose work it actually it is - the child, mum, dad, sibling, auntie, etc.

wheresthehamster · 07/03/2007 20:45

Can't you just do 2 certificates?

A First Prize one for the 'best' and a Highly Commended one for the best effort?

chocolatekimmy · 07/03/2007 20:53

I think a competition is a good idea - I dread to think what some kids are going to be like when they reach adulthood and enter the real world of work or further education.

Theres nothing wrong with a bit of competition. I think sports days should have an element of individual events too.

Its our responsibility as a parent to teach our children that they can't always win everything and make sure they are well adjusted so they can handle it. Children are resiliant, they can handle it!

I do remember a hilarious quote by Homer Simpson after Bart had decided to turn a new leaf and study really hard for an exam. He failed and was upset and said 'but dad, i tried really hard' and Homer said 'it just go's to show son, its not worth trying"!

Hulababy · 07/03/2007 20:56

I agree that all children should have competition too. But I don't think the competition should be based on some project that is done at home, if being judged at school. Fine if the bonnets were being made at school one afternoon, with access to same help and resources though - and not dependent on parental help (and amount of!), parent's moneya nd resources, etc. Not a level playing field.

Original poster

Kbear · 07/03/2007 20:59

I think it will be glaringly obvious which ones were made by the kids and which by the parents though Hula - and they will be judged accordingly! The winners will be the best one made by a child.

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TwirlyN · 07/03/2007 21:04

I remember winning an Easter bonnet comp at school, 30 odd yrs ago. I am sure, now i think back, the only reason i won was because when the teacher and head asked who made it, I said me, did mummy help a little, No. I think it showed actually, i was quite embarrassed about how crap my bonnet looked in comparison. So, yes, let them have a prize. I bet the parents that don't agree are the ones who make the bonnets!

whitechocolate · 07/03/2007 21:23

I can't see any harm in it - kids love to compete and it gives those'll never get the chance to star in plays etc a spot in the glory. Says she whose DD won the best dressed Easter Egg competition last year! and yes she did do most of it herself.

NotanOtter · 07/03/2007 21:27

perlease

this woman needs to get into the real world

Spidermama · 07/03/2007 21:29

I could not believe my eyes when I saw last years bonnets at the local primary. I swear they were worthy of the Tate. Some of the clearly represented months of work for the parents. I felt so sorry for my kids with the home made rabbit ears which they made themselves but which were completely wrong. They had to do the parade and they would have looked ridiculous, there are no two ways about it.

I didn't know it was a competition or a parade to be fair. But I do get really stressed with having to come up with creations for school. I'm not very creative plus I have four kids and I work, so there really isn't time.

Perhaps it could be a competition for those who want to do it, but there should be no pressure for those who don't. I'm still recovering from having to do three outfits for the unofficially competitive event which was World Book Day. No doubt there'll be some red hair type of thing for Comic Relief too.

I just want to take them out in the camper van and cook lunch in the woods. My kids want to leave school behind at 3.30 every day like me.

Spidermama · 07/03/2007 21:31

Kids need to work on their school/life balance. At the moment it's too schooly. There needs to be quality time at home.

Original poster

Kbear · 08/03/2007 09:08

hear hear Spidermama!

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kslatts · 08/03/2007 09:35

At our school it is a parade without prizes. I agree that competition is good but at our school the bonnets are made at home (usually by the parents). Last year the school did a easter colouring competition for the nursery and reception classes and a design an easter egg competition for the Yr1 and Yr2 classes which worked really well.

Blu · 08/03/2007 15:18

S-P-I-D-E-R.....

It is a competition at DS's school, although every child who makes one and takes part in the parade gets a certificate. DS never wins anything at school (slack, WOH, uncrafty Mum, no chance of ever winning a sports event - mobility disability) and I have only just recovered from the World Book Day Debacle. He is now determned to win something, and said to me some weeks ago about the Spring Hat (aka Easter Bonnet) "It's going to be really huge, Mummy, with everything to do with easter, because the real story of Easter isn't to do with Easter eggs, you know, Mummy. One side will have rabbits and the other side will have chickens in a nest and then in the middle will be an enormous cross sticking up with Jesus on it. He won't be dead because that would be a bit boring, but nearly dead and going 'eeeearrrgh eeeearggh' (faint groaning). And don't worry because I will cover all the eggs and rabbits and jesus with lots on nice coloured bows to make it blend in" .

I'm going to be getting up at 5.30 a.m again.

Would the craft people have any ideas for a Christ on the Cross with sound effects, do you think?

batters · 08/03/2007 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tortington · 08/03/2007 16:14

dont subject the little darlings to competition - tehey are fragile souls. they were knitted things

Blu · 08/03/2007 16:15

Oh, how sweeeeeet! (of the lovely cats).

You could help out with a crushed gerbil perhaps?
Though dead will be boring, of course.

Pleeeease, don't ever suggest anything re live rabbits involved in a Spring Hat Installation to DS, will you?

batters · 08/03/2007 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shouldbedoingsomethingelse · 08/03/2007 17:40

We have done a making masks competition and the children parade in them but we still give a prize for best in the year.

princesscc · 08/03/2007 18:00

I take it woman involved can't be bothered to encourage her child to make a bonnet then, so she's got the hump about it? What is it with the parents at your school? I think it is so right to have a winner from each class - but you know me, I - I mean dd usually wins anyway!!

Blu · 08/03/2007 18:02

lol princess.

KBear - the woman at your school is definitely over-reacting. Even if it wouldn't be her approach, 'livid' is way OTT. And i bet she never organises any (non-comeptitive) fundraisers herself, does she?

CAMdenPalace1981 · 08/03/2007 18:08

hat competition at school - great, the children enjoy making them and they like the idea of prizes.

At dd's school we usually have a termly competition of some description, the most recent one was "Mathematical Hats" for maths week.

Competitions are not about winning but about teaching children how to lose.

Original poster

Kbear · 08/03/2007 19:22

I was well and truly collared by her! She said "I want a word with you", I wooshed by, held up my hands and said "nothing to do with me" and carried on!

The PTA is non-existent now, parents can't be bothered.

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