As parents who recognize both the joy of the holiday season and the genuine difficulties many families face, we feel the financial and time costs of costume-needing school events could be better invested. Every year, we spend not only money, but also precious time we don't have, buying, making, or finding costumes so our children can participate in dress-up days at school. While many children are blessed to be able to participate, we yearn to use these resources to help others.  We feel pressured to have our children participate.  There are many families in our community made up of single-parents, aging caregivers, and households who do not have the time or means to have their children participate.  Regardless, if children don't or aren't able to participate, it is inevitable they will feel excluded and left out.  We were all children once, and we know deep-down how that feels.

It's understandable our children want to dress up for Halloween and wear PJ's and crazy sweaters for the holidays.  These days are understandable, and these traditions have been something we have all done for decades. But a theme every day, every week leading up to a holiday is excessive, expensive, and quite literally exclusionary to those families who can't afford it.

And please, let's not forget that not everyone celebrates Christmas.  There is a beautiful, spiritual tapestry that makes up our communities, our states, our nations, and this world.  

As parents, we respect and understand the spirit of community and celebration that these festive school events can generate. However, we also recognize that not every family has the capacity to contribute in the same way. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 13.6% of Americans, including children, lived in poverty in 2019.

We propose a change to school policy toward ceasing holiday costumes with the exception of one day during Halloween and one day during the holidays.  Let's not compromise the spirit of these special days. Instead, by repurposing the funds and time normally spent in this way, we can enhance the sense of togetherness and community. A redirection of these resources could involve donations to local children's charities, food banks, or simply savings to mitigate familial hardship.

Help us push for this change in our schools. Redirect the resources used for holidays costumes and dress up days to assist those in need in our communities. Sign this petition so we can take a step closer to a more compassionate and empathetic society.  Let's make 2025 a year to teach our children what inclusion means, and give them a gift that will last their entire lives.