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Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching my kids take part in their school’s book parade. My kids are big fans of dressing up and had been looking forward to book week since the beginning of the term.
They both picked characters with low maintenance looks. Between the three of us we threw some costumes together from things we already had and they were both delighted with the results.
But while book week and the character parade are supposed to be fun, for some families the whole thing can be a bit of a nightmare.
Increasingly, parents are opting out altogether and giving their kids the day off instead.
Mother of two Karen Reily* says that previous book week parades have left her feeling like a nervous wreck.
“I have two children who suffer with anxiety. Both struggle socially, with fitting in, with social pressure to be accepted. The thought of dressing up in front of their peers triggers all their anxiety,” she explains.
“They lack the social confidence to be their own delightful selves. The eldest child in Year 2 is a perfectionist, and doesn’t think any outfit is ‘cool’ enough to fit in with her friends.”
Reily says that last years attempt to create a lion costume for her daughter resulted in “much shouting and crying.”
This year, she has decided to save her children from the stress of book week by boycotting the event.
“One night I thought, ‘why does it have to be stressful?’ I had a fantasy about going on holidays during book week so that we could conveniently avoid it. And then I thought there was nothing stopping us from just not attending school on the day.
“So I asked my children how they felt about boycotting the parade and having a day off school instead. Without hesitation they agreed. I was incredibly relieved and so were they,” says Reily.
Reily notes that while her kids get anxious about book week there are other reasons that the event has turned into an ordeal for parents.
“Not all parents have the resources, time, interest or talent to make costumes. So this adds to the anxiety. There is a secret pressure to perform against the standards of other parents,” she explains.
Reily is not the only parent who is boycotting this year’s book week parade. Michelle Green* who has three school age children says that the showmanship between the kids and parents make the day an ordeal for shy kids.
Like Reily, Green has also decided to boycott. Instead, she is taking her children for a day at the zoo.
But will the school object? Green says that she intends to be honest with the school principal about why her children missed a day of school. However, she is far from apologetic.
“At the end of the day I don’t have to justify my decision to the school. We do what is best for our family.
“In an ideal world there would be options for non typical anxious kids. Not one size fits all. And in my ideal world there would be no book week parade at all,” says Green.
But while book week might not be everyone’s idea of fun, it is an important event in the school calendar.
Primary school teacher Daniel Mitchell says that book week is a fantastic way to celebrate books and literacy in schools.
“It promotes the importance of reading for children of all ages. Children enjoy using their imagination and usually love exploring books during book week,” he says.
In addition to this, Mitchell notes that the early years of school are crucial for developing literacy, so events that encourage reading are really worthwhile.
Mitchell says he understands that parents are busy and that school event puts pressure on some families. However, he doesn’t support boycotting.
“Activities such as book parades are meant to be a celebration and not a cause anxiety in parents and children,” he says.
“Perhaps schools need to do a better job of communicating this to families.”
*Names have been changed
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