Classroom Party

Now that school has started we have hit the season of Classroom Parties.  If your child is in elementary school it will seem like someone is having a party in class every week.  There will be birthday parties given by parents and holiday parties sponsored by a teacher or classroom parent.  Here are a few things to think about as the party season begins.

School Sponsored Parties

1. Plan ahead.  Get a class list that includes a count of boys and girls. Let your child's teacher know ahead of time what you are able to provide for class parties.  Do not let your child or the teacher assign you a task or food you can't complete. 

2. Do not get pressured into doing something unreasonable.  You should not have to bake 100 cupcakes for field day tomorrow.

3. Teach your child to be an individual and honor your families beliefs.  If your family does not celebrate a certain holiday let the teacher know and prepare your child.   * When my oldest daughter was in kindergarten, a parent decided to have a Halloween party in her class.  My little 5 year old looked the parent boldly in face, as she tried to get her involved, and said, "We don't do Halloween."  The parent backed off and my daughter came home very proud of the fact that she stood up for her families values.   

4. Communicate with the teacher and volunteer for at least one event during the school year.  Be a presence in your child's class. 

Your Child's Birthday Party

1. Ask the teacher for permission and schedule a date and time. You do not want to just show up with cupcakes and the students are testing.  A great time to bring a treat is during or after lunch.  I usually bring treats to lunch and serve them as a dessert.  Class time is not interrupted and there is less worry about mess. 

2. Get a list of rules regarding what you can bring and how long the party can last. You should plan to spend 30 minutes or less in the class.  Many schools will not allow balloons or homemade food to be given to kids. 

3. Bring all of your own supplies.  Teachers do not have plates, cups, napkins, forks, knives, lighters or matches for candles, and extra trash bags.  In fact, you may not be allowed to light candles in school.

4. Beware of allergies.  Avoid peanut butter it is the most common allergy.  Let the teacher and kids know what you are feeding them. Most kids know what foods to avoid.  

5. If you are going to give out goody bags, do not fill them with a bunch of candy kids will eat it all immediately and be bouncing off the walls in class or on the bus.  *It is usually best to give goody bags to the teacher to hand out during dismissal.  

6. You have more options than ice cream and cake or cupcakes for these celebrations.  Make it personal for your child.  My children have had Popsicles, Italian Ice, fruit, and other snacks instead of the traditional ice cream and cake.  

7. Be considerate of children who have different beliefs.  I have one daughter who always has a student in her class that does not celebrate birthdays.  When she told me this I coordinated my daughters birthday celebration with a pizza party the students won for their test scores.  They had cupcakes as dessert that day.  We acknowledged my daughters birthday but that was not the focus of the day.  So for the past 6 years we have stuck to dessert at lunch to celebrate since the other student has been in her class every year.  Since my daughter was challenged with a Halloween party she understands and respects her classmate. 

8. Lastly, clean up the room when you are done.  Do not leave the teacher with a huge mess and sticky desks.