World book day in schools…more money for parents to spend.

Aveline

Teachers at my son's school used to dress up too. I well remember stifling a laugh when he came home and excitedly told me that his very strict, old fashioned teacher came as 'Queen of Tarts'!

Love it, Aveline! I remember one of my very short, white-haired colleagues dressing up as a shepherd one Christmas. The Reception children thought she was Mrs Goggins.

We had a family Zoom quiz last night. DS was bemoaning the whole dressing up thing and DD2 declared that she loved creating the outfits. One of her boys went as Captain Underpants this year, the other as some sort of alien dragon from his favourite book. Another grandson went as the golden snitch last year- sadly nobody knew who/what he’d come as.

Teachers at my son's school used to dress up too. I well remember stifling a laugh when he came home and excitedly told me that his very strict, old fashioned teacher came as 'Queen of Tarts'!

My GS wore his bigger sibling's t shirt that had character on it he likes and told his mum that was enough.
At my other GD school not only do they have book day but world science day as well as Pudsey bear where they take and buy each other's buns.
When I taught this was just starting and the head realised the cost to parents and chose a set of books that have Mr plug the plumber and Miss tick the teacher etc.. The children could also choose one of their own with no more than 3 props the others had to guess who they were. Then write a story to match their favourite. Cheap and no competing parents which is what it turns into in affluent upwardly mobile areas.

Someone gave me a second-hand Heidi costume which I wore to any fancy dress party when I was young. It was lovely (probably very expensive) but the straw plaits on an embroidered headband stuck in my ears.

Fortunately we did not have these antics when I was at school (1950s). We did have a school carnival once a year bt there was no suggestion that parents contribute money. These were the austerity years after WWII.

I quickly learned not to whinge to my mother for costumes for the carnival. If I pestered I got a slap and then a whalloping from my father. Instead I went to my grandmother who had a huge stash of fabrics and loved sewing on one of those old treadle foot machines.

I can remember a gypsy costume with a lovely red and black velvet skirt and a headdress decorated with gold coloured curtain rings. Another year I was Maid Marian with a pointy hat.

My mother would not have had a clue about dress up costumes. From the threads on Mumsnet there are far too many of these "dress up/down and pay for it" days. Parents have got enough to do without all that.

👏👏

Meant to add this- DGD and DGS in “costume” and their genuinely favourite books. I think the dog enjoys it too.

And they get a voucher to spend on books 🙂

Some children don't own a book.

Are some people over-thinking this?
Fiction/non-fiction - it’s about books and reading. Kids (mostly) love to dress up as their favourite characters and it need not take costume designer skills or loadsamoney to come up with something.
Imagination, possibly.

Calendargirl

I’m just glad that all this dressing up for certain days wasn’t on the go when my children were in school.

I don’t think you need to be dressed up to encourage a love of reading.

One primary school my DS attended always suggested fancy dress for the Christmas party. He always wanted to be a pirate, easy peasy!

And there were optional fancy dress competitions at DD's primary school for the summer fete, she came 2nd one year for something very simple. No bought costumes then.

Very willing to support charities and dress their two daughters in favourite princess costumes. My DS and DIL refuse to send their daughters to school in pjs. Because there are enough parents standing at the school gate in theirs on an every day basis.

No need for the dressing up, imo.

It was a nightmare for my daughter when the grandkids were young however I think it looked lovely for small children in their little costumes and they love it don’t they

I totally disagree about the Harry/ Jeremy Clarkson/ dolly pardon books this should be wholly about ‘characters’ not real life people
I m sure that little boy hasn’t read Harry’s book so that’s been done for the parents and could lead to controversy
It should have a fictional only rule

I’m just glad that all this dressing up for certain days wasn’t on the go when my children were in school.

I don’t think you need to be dressed up to encourage a love of reading.

My 2 granddaughters, 8, also had a pyjama day. It’s much better than having to dress them up, especially for those with limited income and full time working parents.

Yes - DGS1’s school had a go to school in pyjama day and take along a favourite soft too. It would help those parents strapped for either cash or time.

One local school told the children to come in their pyjamas today, presumably along the lines of "a bedtime story."
The headmaster was at the gates dressed up as The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and having photos taken with the children.
He looked amazing!

A few years ago I was walking past an urban primary school on what happened to be World Book Day. It was playtime, and one little girl dressed as a Disney princess was not only playing football with the lads but giving as good as she got and then some.

I'd have loved to have taken a photo but of course there are times you just can't, and this was one of them. I just have to describe it in words. And good for her!

When my youngest granddaughter was in primary school, she won Word Book Day two years running much to the annoyance of other parents.
Her dad, my DS2, made up the idea for both of her costumes which were home made. This was after she had , in previous years, gone as one of the Disney princesses, one of the many in the school.

Many schools have opted for other ways of celebrating World Book Day. They recognise that in a cost of living crisis it's inappropriate to ask parents to spend money on shop bought costumes. My grandson's nursery said they could take in a book and he took his favourite in which the teacher read to his group. Others wore homemade costumes. If parents are spending money they can't afford or sewing into the small hours, they are setting unattainable standards for themselves.

Daughters friends son went as Jeremy Clarkson, he was told not to mention Meghan Markle😬

Chestnut

Just seen this which has to be the winner! 😂😂😂

I was just about to post that, Chestnut!

Hilarious.

Just seen this which has to be the winner! 😂😂😂

My grandson was dressing a potato as a book character. He wanted to do the Hogwarts Express (character?) but ran out of red card. His second choice was Aslan who turned out very well although more like a kitten than a lion. Certainly cheaper than dressing a child.