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46 replies
katem98 · 05/03/2024 13:37
Out of curiosity, do you make your child's outfit or buy them? Either are fine (obviously) but as a child we always made our outfits with what we had in the house and it now seems everyone buys them. Outfits are £15+ which seems silly for one day. I want to make DS's costume but don't want him to be the only one with a handmade if everyone else buys theirs. Hes reception age but hate the thought of him sticking out like a sore thumb.
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ToasterChic · 05/03/2024 13:41
I always cobble something together from what we already have. I wouldn’t buy anything unless it is handy to have. E.g. green leggings that could be worn as usual clothing when not in costume.
I like WBD but I don’t like waste or competitiveness so try not to get involved in big shiny impressive costumes. It doesn’t seem to be an issue for the kids (oldest is 8 tho so don’t know if that changes). I also don’t mind saying “you can’t go as X, we can’t do the costume” so I make them think of something do-able rather than their favourite book or whatever. I’ve always loved the challenge of “make do” and DC seem to now as well (phew)
NoKnit · 05/03/2024 13:42
Reception age? Just crack on and dress him in whatever you want or he wants. Nobody will care or remember.
There was no World Book Day when I was a child. In fact it isn't celebrated with dressing up in well most of the world actually. It's always a concept that has baffled me.
NoKnit · 05/03/2024 13:47
I've just been reading about it on Google. It's actually on a different day in the UK. I'm even more confused by it now.
Weallnamechangesometimes · 05/03/2024 13:47
Combination. This year my year 2 wants to be Willy wonka so I bought a costume and we made the golden ticket. Dd in reception is mad for butterflies so she is going as the very hungry caterpillar/butterfly. She already has a set of wings and yesterday I cut out fruit from felt and stitched to a t-shirt.
EcoCustard · 05/03/2024 13:49
i make something from stuff we have, I have 4 Dc at primary school so purchasing can get expensive. The kids choose who they want to be & help put it together. Our WBD was yesterday. It seems to have little bearing on reading at our school though.
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MabelMaybe · 05/03/2024 13:51
We're reusing own clothes this year (think Harry Potter etc. as a character who just wears general, but identifiable clothes) but I noticed our local charity shops have world book costume displays up, to resell fancy dress items for the day.
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Twentypastfour · 05/03/2024 13:51
Cobble together.
I’ve never made (and nor am I planning) a paper mache and paint costume - although I do do plenty of that stuff with my kids at home. It’s more like, oh your favourite character wears a red top and jeans so let’s dig out your red top and jeans .. and then we might hand make a few accessories so it looks like some effort has been made.
Most of the books my children wear the main and favourite characters are humans and wear normal human clothes. I always sort of assumed WBD was a chance to share and discuss your favourite books with your friends and teachers so I’m perfectly happy for them to wear every day clothes rather than say dress in a flamboyant costume from a book they might not even be that interested in.
Mishmashs · 05/03/2024 13:53
In the past I have made stuff - skeleton from funny bones and Sophie from the tiger who came to tea. Occasionally I have bought stuff - a zog costume I couldn’t resist and it got used a lot when it went into the dressing up basket.
this year one is going as pippi long stocking - du agrees, mismatched socks, a toy horse and red hair and freckles (she got the hair colouring crayons for her birthday). And the other is form diary of a wimpy kid so can wear whatever!
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bingoringo4 · 05/03/2024 13:54
My mil buys them, I just let her crack on. She buys for Red Nose Day and children in need too.
Rosiiee · 05/03/2024 13:55
We use the same costume he wore for Halloween and just find a book to go with it.
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user1471523870 · 05/03/2024 13:56
I would love to make something myself, but I have no time. So far we reused the same costume twice (I made sure to buy it in a bigger size on purpose, and I am lucky SH really loves it and didn't ask for another).
But we also have other options, all suitable for WBD, as DS loves dressing up and we have been given hands down or costumes as presents by relatives, so I think we will be sorted for another few years:).
NahNeedsGarlic · 05/03/2024 14:00
Neither dc has ever been remotely interested, despite being keen readers. We make a token effort with black cloaks and then link a book that has witches, wizards or vampires.
Fluffyc1ouds · 05/03/2024 14:01
I don't generally have time for this kind of thing and I'm not very crafty, but I actually enjoy organising a costume for World Book Day. We always cobble something together but I usually need to buy bits and bobs to make it work. I don't mind buying actual clothes (for example this year he needs a green shirt) if he's going to get plenty of wear out of it afterwards. Most of the kids at school are in handmade costumes so I doubt your child will stick out.
Blughbablugh · 05/03/2024 14:05
I've bought stuff but it's not a costume as such, more clothes that can be worn again. This year my dd is going as a little miss character and so have got some leggings and t shirt to wear which she can wear anytime afterwards and will do her hair like the character. So a mix I guess rather than a specific costume that she can only wear once.
Spreadthehappiness · 05/03/2024 14:06
A combination here . I asked both children who they wanted to be ( probably my first mistake 😜) and one we could make and the other I had to buy . The one I had to buy can be reused in other ways so not a complete waste .
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WaveAcrossTheBay · 05/03/2024 14:06
I never bought a full costume just for world book day, but might one item. Otherwise they wore something we already had, like a princess costume we had been given or a witch costume from Halloween, or they went as a book character who wears normal clothes. Last time DC2 wore a dress she already owned and I bought some bat wings because they could be worn again for Halloween or other dressing up and she made a wand. She was isadora moon who is half-fairy half-vampire. Fortunately, school has decided they just need to come in pyjamas this year.
museumum · 05/03/2024 14:06
Homemade but I’ll buy a second hand shirt of the right colour or whatever. This year we needed to buy a dressing gown from eBay that he’s been wearing all week as an actual dressing gown.
SquigglePigs · 05/03/2024 14:10
Combination. I try to cobble together from what we've got and once got lucky with a dress up outfit from a charity shop. One year in nursery DD went in her Zog puddle suit that we already own. This year it's Queen Elsa from Frozen. I tried to talk her into something more book related but she pointed out she has Frozen books, plus we already own the costume so I'm going with it.
BobbyGentry · 05/03/2024 14:16
from t’internet
ColleenDonaghy · 05/03/2024 14:16
Our school doesn't dress up for WBD thank god, this year there is nothing needing parental involvement beyond a vote on FB for the best class effort at some art. I think they should put that front and centre on their website when they're promoting themselves for next year's admissions 
But for younger ones, it's the same as @Rosiiee - whatever we already have in from Halloween and pick a book to fit. Youngest is going to nursery in her witch's outfit and Room on the Broom.
I personally wouldn't be up for spending time or money on WBD.
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Mayhemmumma · 05/03/2024 14:17
Immediately purchase on Amazon. I grew up with my mums crafts and at least twice I remember crying because they were awful - broken or embarrassing. She didn't put any pride into mine or my sister's appearance and it showed.
ColleenDonaghy · 05/03/2024 14:18
BobbyGentry · 05/03/2024 14:16
from t’internet
Sure, but I can spare 20 quid more than I can spare the time it would take me to make something out of cereal boxes! I don't blame parents for taking the easy way out.
Mayhemmumma · 05/03/2024 14:18
(And I buy and borrow tons of books so that meme is irrelevant to me)
JollyJanuary · 05/03/2024 14:20
Neither - DD not keen on fancy dress. She is an avid reader though.
Hopeislost · 05/03/2024 14:22
We are using a secondhand costume that a cousin has grown out of this year. Last year we cobbled one together from stuff we already had.
DDs school is having a swap event this week where you can take an old costume to swap for a new one. They've had some costumes donated from a local company also.
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