You always hear people say 'Doesn’t the time fly?' when it comes to your children, & boy are they right, every month I look at Abbie and she looks so much more grown up than ever, before I know it's going to be her second birthday, then she'll be off to school, featuring in her very first Nativity play (oh god I will be a blubbering mess, yes, I'm THAT parent!). The school plays are actually one of the main things I'm looking forward to the most; grabbing some photo evidence of their performance as an innocent (ahem!) angel, sparkling star or plump Christmas pudding! Too cute! Once that first one is over and done it, the next one is sure to come around again so quickly & i'll be remembering we were booking time off work to head to the matinee show that they’d put so much effort into making perfect, then BAM, here it is again!
The concert process can differ between schools – you may be asked to help with the costumes, it may not be a nativity but more of a festive sing-along show, you may be told what character your child is portraying or it may be a complete surprise for you to see on the day. Whatever system your child’s school incorporates, it’s an incredibly special time for parents, as they bubble with pride, seeing their little one on stage dancing and singing to the masses.
The Costumes
Most of the time, it’s the school who will provide them. They may rope in a few parent helpers if they are handy with a needle and thread, but unless you hear from them, assume everything is in hand. If you do get asked to supply a fancy dress costume, George at ASDA’s range of fancy dress will hopefully provide plenty of inspiration for you. Alternatively, if you’re a dab hand with the sewing machine, you could fashion one yourself, but consider the time constraints at this busy time of year if this is the road you’re thinking of going down!
The Songs
They may or may not be nativity related songs. Changes within the school setting and beyond can mean that rather than a typically “religious” performance, parents can expect to be treated to a repertoire of festive songs that the children have learned during the run up to the show. You may be tempted to join in too – you’ll recognize a few of them, if not all, including favourites “when Santa got stuck up the chimney” and “Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree”, which I actually sang at my first one whilst dressed up in an angel costume that my Nan had made out of sheets & tinsel...
Photography
Some schools support regulations that mean no photography or videography is allowed, which can be disappointing for parents wanting to record these moments forever. Make sure that you know what view your child’s school has, before you start snapping photos of your little one dressed as a reindeer.
Stagefright
You may think that your child is the loudest, most confident little diva in the world but put them on stage and they can be entirely different. Don’t be upset if they suffer a little stagefright and don’t sing or dance like you expected them too. Stay positive and don’t let them feel bad about it, either.
Waving
They will wave to you once they have managed to spot you in the audience. While it’s a lovely thing to see, try and keep the waving to a minimum so that they can focus on the play. You can talk to them afterwards!
Christmas concerts are great fun and well worth taking a little flexitime from work for – it marks the start of the festive fun for many people and means that their visit from Santa is just around the corner!