I hate the book character “Halloween” parade

[Anonymous]

My kids are pretty particular about their costumes. I’ve seen variations of this over the last 15 years. When dd who is now a Sophomore was in elementary there were dress as a word parade. Dress as a word from the dictionary was done at her elementary school.

My middle child has had a few years of these book character parades and he’s in 5th.

My youngest is in second grade now and also has the book character parade this year.

It feels like extra work to match a book character to the outfit because we don’t buy the costume of a book character. Then when they don’t match the book they are carrying around they are asked time and time again who they are supposed to be.

Just a vent about these non-Halloween costume- but- book costume parades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are pretty particular about their costumes. I’ve seen variations of this over the last 15 years. When dd who is now a Sophomore was in elementary there were dress as a word parade. Dress as a word from the dictionary was done at her elementary school.

My middle child has had a few years of these book character parades and he’s in 5th.

My youngest is in second grade now and also has the book character parade this year.

It feels like extra work to match a book character to the outfit because we don’t buy the costume of a book character. Then when they don’t match the book they are carrying around they are asked time and time again who they are supposed to be.

Just a vent about these non-Halloween costume- but- book costume parades.

I had to go as a book character in third grade. I was Bluebeard from Bluebeard’s Castle. I don’t remember being upset about it.

[Anonymous]

You can find a book about literally anything. What was child going to be for trick or treating? Go to the library and find that thing as a book.

One year kid was an axolotl for trick or treating: found a non fiction book about axolotls.

One year kid was a Minecraft character: found a graphic novel about Minecraft.

One year kid wore their sports jersey and brought a mike lupica book about the sport.

We have never bought or arranged a second costume. Most years dc can find a matching book at the school library so I don’t have to do anything extra. “Book character day” allows those who are anti Halloween to still participate, so I’m all for it.

[Anonymous]

Same. Drives me crazy. They don’t bother me as much other times of the year, but for Halloween it’s just so that kids can’t show off their neat costumes and have to have ones they don’t like as much. Nearly everyone is Harry Potter. My kids like Harry Potter but not every year.

We don’t have parades anymore since 10/31 and 11/1 are both holidays now. Not sure whose holiday 10/31 is- satanists? Used to be a fun day at school when I was a kid.

[Anonymous]

Like 22:22 said, most kids just wear their Halloween costumes and find a book to go with it.

My 4th grader is just wearing last year's costume because this year's is big and bulky.

[Anonymous]

I do think it's stupid that we can't celebrate Halloween in school anymore. Some holier than thou momma thinks it's a holiday for devil worshipers and complained too much. What a B.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but you sound rather anti-intellectual when you start ranting about book character costumes.

It's fun to be asked who you are. Why would you want to go as something so obvious that people don't even need to ask???

[Anonymous]

My kids just wear whatever their costume is going to be. Unless it’s too scary for school (has blood or weapons). Like, one year my kids wanted to be a mummy and a slice of pizza. That’s what they dressed as. No one cared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can find a book about literally anything. What was child going to be for trick or treating? Go to the library and find that thing as a book.

One year kid was an axolotl for trick or treating: found a non fiction book about axolotls.

One year kid was a Minecraft character: found a graphic novel about Minecraft.

One year kid wore their sports jersey and brought a mike lupica book about the sport.

We have never bought or arranged a second costume. Most years dc can find a matching book at the school library so I don’t have to do anything extra. “Book character day” allows those who are anti Halloween to still participate, so I’m all for it.

+1 My daughter wanted to wear a pink tutu one year and we found a Pinkalicious book. It's not that hard to find a book that goes with any costume at all.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always thought dress-up days and most spirit theme days are a terrible idea. They don’t contribute significantly to learning, in fact they are more likely to be disruptive, they are a hassle for parents, and kids whose parents don’t have the time, money, and/or interest to help them can end up feeling left out.

[Anonymous]

We just do regular Halloween costumes at our school but my son will be Spider-Man and I imagine it would be the same for book character day - he has a library of marvel books. Most movies have a book tie in.

[Anonymous]

It's annoying because it is one more thing, but I get that schools are trying to find a way to have appropriate and maybe low cost costumes. I liked the year each class made something that they all wore - this worked for little kids. Some parents do a nice job with the book thing, others find a wolverine book- not exactly the spirit of the idea. thankfully, my kids school doesn't do halloween at all anymore. I'm happy about it but I think most parents especially in the early years of this were upset about it.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, this kinda stuff is why I'm so glad my kids go to a title I school. There's is SO MUCH bullsh*t like this at schools with richer kids. No, I'm not getting my kid what amounts to TWO halloween costumes! Crazy. Our kid's halloween parade at school is just that, and they even have extra costumes for kids who don't have one or can't afford one.

And spirit weeks! Ours are stuff that are easy to throw together in less than 10 minutes in the morning with stuff you already have. Wear stripes! Crazy socks! (just two that don't match) Pajama Day! Crazy hair! These are all so easy.

My friends in other districts have like costume theme days, things like wear your holiday socks (who has holiday socks?), dress like a book character (and not even at halloween), "Christmas in May" (oh, so now you need to buy Christmas things that fit for spring too?) that involve planning and spending money.

I always think about this stuff with the fertility rate panic. It's not One Big Thing. It's that every single thing about raising kids has gotten slightly harder in the last thirty years, and often for no good reason. Death by a thousand cuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can find a book about literally anything. What was child going to be for trick or treating? Go to the library and find that thing as a book.

One year kid was an axolotl for trick or treating: found a non fiction book about axolotls.

One year kid was a Minecraft character: found a graphic novel about Minecraft.

One year kid wore their sports jersey and brought a mike lupica book about the sport.

We have never bought or arranged a second costume. Most years dc can find a matching book at the school library so I don’t have to do anything extra. “Book character day” allows those who are anti Halloween to still participate, so I’m all for it.

+1 My daughter wanted to wear a pink tutu one year and we found a Pinkalicious book. It's not that hard to find a book that goes with any costume at all.

Haha same. My daughter also wanted to wear a tutu and was sent to school with a Nutcracker book. Her Halloween costume this year is not from books so we’ll do the same thing again, whichever book works for whatever she wants to wear. Definitely not buying anything for this occasion.

[Anonymous]

It’s really easy to find a book about anything.

What does your kid want to be? How old are they?

I can find an age appropriate book to match any costume in 5 minutes.