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Original poster

These things called "story sacks" - do you have them?

40 replies

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 22:54

Every Friday DS (Reception) lugs home some giant cloth swag-bag bulging with a "themed" collection of items to "promote reading", e.g. a couple of books, a couple of games and some soft toys. There is an Owl one with the Owl Babies book, tape and some toys in... a Farm-themed one with farm toys and Old Macdonald books and tape... etc.

And every Friday, he lugs it back and swaps it for another. We may have looked at it, we may not. Depending on what else we have had to do. We already have books, you know.

Does anyone else have this scheme and get mightily pissed off with it?

I can see that it benefits schools with lots of households where such things are not commonplace. Odd as it seems, some kids just don't have books and their parents need to be encouraged to read to them.

But at our school I just find it mildly patronising - not to mention a right pain lugging the damn thing, as Friday is one of my school-run (walk) days and muggins here ends up being lumbered with the sodding great sack while DS runs off to chat to some friend or other.

Am I an ungrateful git?

OP posts:
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RosaLuxMundi · 04/12/2007 22:55

Yes.

sophiewd · 04/12/2007 22:56

They did this in nursery I worked at which was fun for very little ones but would have thought that reception with reading books it isn't necessary.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 04/12/2007 22:56

Neice used to have these.
I thought they were odd, especially as it would seem the child/parent does not have to do anything with it.
???

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 22:58

Rosa - what? Yes you have them, yes you get pissed off with them or yes I am an ungrateful git?

OP posts:
pinkspottywellies · 04/12/2007 22:58

We have these at the library and they're lovely but I think I'd be a bit miffed if one was sent every week! Does he have a choice not to bring one home or are they compulsory?

(But yes you are being an ungrateful git!!)

moondog · 04/12/2007 22:59

Ungrateful git.
Oh yes!

I'm a salt and a story sack (used properly by someone with a hint of self-discipline and a soupcon of imagination-not you then UQD) is a thing of wonder and true magic.

myrrhthamoo · 04/12/2007 22:59

You're an ungrateful git. Story sacks are quite marvellous - even (dare I say it) for children who do have access to plenty of books. And as for lugging it home...just how heavy are your story sacks? Do they have real wolves and real three little pigs in them plus sundry building materials for straw, wood and brick dwellings?

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:00

I just find them a pain in the arse. At the library, fine. From school - one more thing to carry and do. As for your suggestion, marthamoo I wouldn't put it past them!

OP posts:
myrrhthamoo · 04/12/2007 23:01

UnquietDad with his story sack...

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:02

moondog - don't patronise me! I have more than enough imagination and self-discipline I just choose to apply it in other ways with my children. If you knew what I did for a living you'd realise what a daft comment you have just made.

OP posts:
moondog · 04/12/2007 23:03

Mind you,even I groan and mouth 'Of for fuck's sake,what now!?' when I dig out yet another missive from the school crushed at the bottom of the school bag.

I drew the line at dressing offspring up as a refugee and a spaceman respectively (wtf?) for World Book Day and sent them in uniform.

I believe we were the only family who Hadn't Bothered.

moondog · 04/12/2007 23:04

Get a grip UQD and find that misplaced sense of humour.
Yes,we know what you do.
You make a point of telling us often enough.

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:05

Ooooooo!

Someone's miffed.

OP posts:
choosyfloosy · 04/12/2007 23:05

Wow, I really hope we do. DS would be hyperventilating with excitement if he got something like this. Anything to force his Mum to develop from usual monotone reading of book he's seen many times before.

[plans to bother the Literacy Governor]

Could you suggest that they transfer them to rucksacks, if they're hard to carry?

RosaLuxMundi · 04/12/2007 23:05

Yes, you are an ungrateful git. I made a beautiful Tiger Who Came to Tea one for DD3's nursery class a couple of years ago. They really like it. I am making an Elmer one for reception at the moment. They use them in class though, they don't take them home.
But seriously, what's not to like? Perhaps your children's classmates all come from homes with lots of books and games like yours, but in our school many of the children don't have access to these things - and a lot of parents are not confident with reading to them. Playing a game, doing some counting, talking about the cuddly animal that goes along with the book - these are all ways of making the parent and child more comfortable with sharing school stuff together. For reception children it is more fun than sitting down with stage one of Biff and sodding Kipper, and being shouted at because they can't 'recognise the words 'the' and 'and' on two pages in succession.
Lady of the Flowers - not sure what you mean by saying the parent and child do not have to do anything with them?

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:06

So it's just me, then.

(again)

SIGH

OP posts:
downdowndown · 04/12/2007 23:08

I have made quite a few story sacks, and they are used a lot in our school.

A lot of time/work and effort goes into making them. Plus if the school were to buy them then they are fairly expensive. They are a good resource, because not only do they have a story book in the bag but quite often things that a relevant to that subject.

I think you are being very unreasonable - sorry.

In my eyes any help/encouragement to get DC looking at books surely has to be a positive thing.

Flame · 04/12/2007 23:08

I don't know what UD does

moondog · 04/12/2007 23:09

You'll know in about oooooh...two seconds.
He plunders MN for storylines.

Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:12

Yes, that's the only reason I am here. [deadpan face]

Oh, well, on the story-sack thing as I already said I can see how they help people who don't get much in the way of access to books. But - how can I put this without sounding a bit lah-di-dah-gunner-graham? - I don't really know many of those round here.

OP posts:
Original poster
UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:16

(moondog has perhaps made it sound as if I am a shameless journo, one of those who pop up now and then with a made-up "dilemma" just to pillage quotes for an article. Just wanted to make clear I am not one of those!! I think I've posted on enough genuine threads over the past year for that to be clear...)

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 04/12/2007 23:17

well we think story sacks are fab, it makes the story more visual which for my kids is helpful. at my kids school they have story boards too and act out the stories with loads of prompt type items. and yes we have lots of books at home.

moondog · 04/12/2007 23:17

Depends on where you are I suppose.
But one can't discriminate.
The fabulous child activity that I am about to flog to a big childcare provider was originally sold as something that would benefit children form less privileged backgrounds.

Chief Exec. of aforementioned provider waved his arms dismissively in our presentation when we mentioned this and said
'God,I'm not bothered about that lot.They get quite enough.What's so wrong with being middle class and wanting your kids to do well anyway?'

SantaClausFrau · 04/12/2007 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flame · 04/12/2007 23:20

Aaaaaaaah how have I missed that in the past?

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