1st time room mother/party question

[PrincessMommy2]

This is my first year as room mother for my DD's third grade class. The Halloween party will be my first event. Any experienced room mothers out there with advice for food/games/craft? The teacher has already told me she would like a combination of healthy snacks and party treats, but limit the candy. There will be 45 minutes total for the party. Would a game and a craft take up too much time? I was thinking of a toilet paper mummy contest and either paint small pumpkins or decorate cookies. What about goody bags?

Also, I still need to get the parent list from the teacher. I was going to send a letter letting parents know I would be room mother and ask who would be interested in volunteering food/supplies throughout the year. There are about two dozen kids, so ideally everyone would not need to give something for each party. But, I have noticed in the past, it's always the same handful of parents for each party. What have you found works best? Ask for volunteers or specifically assign what is needed for the party?

Any other suggestions would be welcomed. I have a tendency to go overboard for my own parties, and I want to keep it simple as the teacher suggested.

Thank you!

 

[3boymthr]

I think you will find that most of the people who help out are the parents who are SAHM or only work part time. Mom's who work full time just can't volunteer as much.

I'd suggest asking for volunteers. Sometimes people don't have time to run out to get something that you assign but may have one of the other items on hand or may have the ability to get that item in quantity for free. For example, last year Middle DS's grade was having a Thanksgiving Feast. The room mom sent out a list asking items including fresh cranberries. Well, my parents own 16 acres of cranberry bogs and had just finished harvesting so I brought in enough cranberries for the whole grade, not just the class. No big deal for me, but for other parents it's not an item that most keep on hand and they are expensive if you have to go out and buy them.

ETA - our room mom's send out the list via e-mail and request that you reply to all if you have an item so that the everyone knows who is getting what. It works out just fine. Lists will come out with both craft items and food items and people will highlight or place their name next to the item they can send in.

One last thing double check on allergies before sending out your food list or making decorated cookies.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I think you will find that most of the people who help out are the parents who are SAHM or only work part time. Mom's who work full time just can't volunteer as much.

True...we can't be at the school as often but I've found us WOHMs to be very good at sending things in, supplying the room moms with necessary supplies, fundraising, etc. Whether a mom works outside the home or not doesn't really have any bearing on her ability to be an active participant in her child's class.

 

[monkeybug]

I am room mom for the first time too! I sent a letter home initially to let parents know I was the room parent, and then highlighted a few of the events we would be having during the school year.
I e-mail for everything now though. It's much quicker and easier to respond (no remembering to send something back to class with a kiddo) My daughters teacher wants the class party to be low key and relaxing, as the school itself has many organized events going on that day. We will have a simple craft set up on a table that kids can either choose to do or not, and we will do a Halloween version of mad libs together as a class. There are lots of great resources for ideas. One of my favorites is a web site called One pretty thing. Lot's and lots of ideas!!!
The rest of the time will be spent eating and showing off costumes!
I also just ask parents to reply to all, but we have a school directory and every parent who sent in an e-mail has given permission for it to be shared with other school parents.

 

[ozarkmom]

Sorry no suggestions just glad to hear you can call it a Halloween party! We changed ours to Fall party a few years back. The carnival they have at school is the fall carnival etc. Can't mention that evil old Halloween!

 

[ozarkmom]

sorry double post.

 

[mtemm]

we don't even get a fing all party here. I am really sad that my kids don't get halloween parties at school. I loved them as a kid!

 

[kacaju]

do the toilet paper mummies. The kids LOVE it. I have been a class mom for over 10 years now and that one is always a hit. If you or if you know someone who can download music you can get a playlist of all kinds of great Halloween type songs!!

 

[PrincessMommy2]

Great suggestions everyone, please keep them coming!

 

[momof1princess]

as a former head room mother, i can tell you, no matter how many kids are in the class, you will only have a small number of parents who will help you, and it will be the same ones each time. your best bet is to send a note home telling the parents they can send candy or small toys, pencils, etc., for halloween goody bags if they would like and request the types of snacks you would like them to send in for the party. fruit, pretzels or goldfish crackers and maybe cupcakes would be good. as a PP said, you'll need to check with the teacher regarding food allergies. our kids were only allowed 2 parties per year, and they saved them for christmas and...shoot, i don't remember when the second one was, lol. for halloween, we did a special "snack" consisting of cupcakes and chips and asked parents to send candy for goody bags. good luck!

 

[Duchie]

My best advice - keep it simple! If you have a craft or game, keep it short and simple. The kids will be happy just having unstructured time and will most likely love anything you do.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

My best advice - keep it simple! If you have a craft or game, keep it short and simple. The kids will be happy just having unstructured time and will most likely love anything you do.

Keep it simple is good advice. You have limited space and time in a classroom. I would not do any candy, and just assign/suggest things to bring. For healthy alternatives, we have done fruit (several moms send in a bag of cut up, washed fruit and we throw it all in a bowl for fruit salad). The kids love this. Also, pretzels & popcorn. Limit the sugar, they will get enough trick or treating.

One cute activity we did once was decorate a bagel...get a few cream cheese tubs, mix orange food coloring (or yellow & red to make orange), have the kids put the cream cheese on the bagel, then provide them with raisins, etc to make a jack o lantern face! They love it! Then they eat it!

Water bottles & juice boxes can be sent in by parents, also. Good luck!

 

[PrincessMommy2]

OP here, thank you for all the suggestions. I definitely like the idea of parents copying everyone on an email for party contributions. Kinda like an email "sign-up" sheet!

Anyone have any ideas for simple, quick crafts for 8 and 9 year olds?

 

[Rora]

I'm a 3rd grade teacher and sadly I don't get you wonderful room moms!! Come to my school!!

Anyways, easy crafts:
-Spooky Ghost Lollipop: This one is really easy. Buy a bunch of blow pops, thick white napkins and black pipecleaners. Have the kids cover the blow pop with the napkin and tie a pipecleaner around the bottom of the actual blow pop to make a ghost on a stick! Easy and cheap!

-Haunted Hands: At the dollar store you should be able to find bags with fingers (like a skeleton hand..). Buy candycorn and popcorn. Have students put one piece of candycorn into each finger of the bag (like a fingernail) and then fill the rest of the bag with popcorn. Tie the ends with a rubberband and your kids will have a spooky, yummy treat bag!

-Bat finger puppets: Another easy one- Cut out a bunch of bats with two holes near the bottom of their body. Bring black paper and white colored pencils. Have the kids trace the bat outline onto the black paper and then cut it out, including the holes. They can leave the bats as is or they can decorate them with googly eyes, black pompoms (to make them furry, etc).

Hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[Teacher03]

My best advice - keep it simple! If you have a craft or game, keep it short and simple. The kids will be happy just having unstructured time and will most likely love anything you do.

Third grade teacher here, and I couldn't agree more. Try not to do anything where they get too out of control. I would do simple games in small groups that rotate, maybe one craft, and a snack.

I guess I better send a note home to my room mothers about our party! It is getting close!

 

[3boymthr]

True...we can't be at the school as often but I've found us WOHMs to be very good at sending things in, supplying the room moms with necessary supplies, fundraising, etc. Whether a mom works outside the home or not doesn't really have any bearing on her ability to be an active participant in her child's class.

Oh, yes that is so true. I just meant that the one's who show up in class will typically be those people. I'm one of the donater's. I work mother's hours and need to save my time off for sick days and appointments that can't be scheduled after work so I can't be in class during school hours.

Every time there was an event/party at school last year they wanted three parents from every class to show up to assist in the class. It never was me and I always felt bad when my kids asked why not, but they always felt good bringing in cookies and such so it evens out.

 

[m&m's mom]

HA! I am a full time working Mom AND the room Mom. I think that makes me crazy.
I have a lot of vacation and I work from home so that makes it easier.
For the 1st time , DD's 4th grade class all girls except one have working Moms and this is an upper middle class area. Somehow we all pitch in and make it work.
I am loving these ideas!

 

[Val]

I was a room mom for 16 years-- my youngest is now in junior high. A fun and REALLY easy "game" is to put the number of funny objects in a bag as there are kids......then, start a "spooky story"

......once upon a Halloween night three ghosts were out trick or treating. As they walked up to the first house, they came upon ...

The first kid pulls an object out of the bag (a pillow case works well). Now- tie that object into the story. For example, they pull out a toy elephant...." A giant elephant answered the door and said 'what do you want'...". Each child then continues to pull an item out and add to the story. Make the items silly items like a red sock, an egg beater, etc....look for old McDonalds toys, small animals, etc. (if you have any small Halloween characters that is even better). Continue the story until every child has had a chance to take from the bag and add their piece.

MOST importantly- record the story. Then, during snack time- play it back for them. They are quiet while listening (or laughing at themselves). It goes quite quickly, and you can leave the recording with the class for use at the listening center.

Good snacks are "witch eye punch"- that's 7-up/sprite (clear soda) with frozen grape juice cubes- but put grapes in the ice tray (and if you want to, blanch the grapes and peel for extra effect) so the ice cubes have eyeballs.

I found gummi road kill animals on line at Oriental Trading Company- put them on top of rice krispy snacks and made "road lines" using twizzlers I had pulled apart (and cut for the dotted line). It met the healthy guideline and was fun.

Fruit parfaits of fruit layered between yogurt works well, too- could use lemon or orange for halloween effect, with cantelope and melons- then add some berries for color.

Cookie decorating is a little messy- but you get your craft AND your snack at one time!

I am actually feeling a little sad that I am no longer a room mom....and I honestly didn't think I would. With 2 kids in junior high, a senior in high school and a senior in college- well, maybe it is time to start hinting about grandbabies to my oldest!

Good luck- and hang on tight to your little ones. You blink, and the days of tinkerbell and Buzz Light year trick or treating are gone too soon- replaced by Twighlight's Bellas and football players- and then no more trick or treating. At least I can still ooh and aah over the little neighbor kids!

 

[golfgal]

I spent many years as a room parent. My suggestion is to break down each party that the class will have and assign a family to bring something in for which ever party. When our kids were in elementary they had a Halloween party, Christmas party and Valentines party--1/3 of the class was assigned for Halloween, 1/3 for Christmas, 1/3 for Valentines. I sent that out at the beginning of the year so everyone knew what to expect. I would then follow up with a phone call or email a week before the party then the day before the party. Usually the list was for :

Smiths--1 gallon juice
Jones--1 gallon juice
Johnson-napkins and small paper plates
Thompson--cut up fruit
Anderson--cupcakes
Hanson--candy
Wall--candy

It helped that I knew all of the families so I could assign the napkins to people I knew worked and cupcakes to the people I knew loved to bake, etc.