??? About Kids Parties In School

[CamColt]

How do your kids classes choose who does what for holiday parties? In preschool there was always a sign up sheet where the parents would offer to do something of their choice. Now in Kindergarten we have been assigned(by the room mother) what party we will do something for and what to bring in. While I agree everyone should have to do something once, I would think it would work better if everyone got to do what worked for them. For example I got stuck with "paper goods" for the end of the year party. I am the type of person who would enjoy baking something, like cupcakes and decorating them for the season, etc... I also know people who would have no desire to do that and would much prefer to run to the supermarket and buy cups and plates and be done with it. Wouldnt it make more sense to let people pick out what works for them, or is this the way its usually done and Im just an amature at having a kid in school?

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

At my son's school, the room parent will call when a party is coming up and ask what I'd like to contribute. I usually ask what is needed and then take it from there.

I never have been told what to bring . . .maybe next time that happens you can say . . .I much rather bake something, if that's ok.

Last year when my DS was in 3rd grade, I didn't get a call on any of the parties

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Around here it is up to the room mom to decide how to handle the parties.

 

[Lucky4me]

In my dd's class they have a sign up sheet for the entire years parties. It's put up for Open house and then at parent teacher conferences. You can choose what to bring but if you want to bring something in particular, you must be sure to sign up early. Works for me!

 

[tiggerlover]

I am acting school mom for DS's class (K/1) and I'm in the process of planning the class party for fall. I was given the list of parents by DS's teacher and asked to ask a few for this party, a few for the next and so on and so on. When I approached the parents I asked them first if they would like to contribute and if they did I asked what they would like to do. If the item they stated was taken I would tell them and then let them chose something else. (Also, I had specific instructions to follow from the teacher.....only 3 fall-type food items and fall-type juice (boxes only).

I agree it is nice to have a choice instead of being told to bring something, but if you are last on the list and all that is needed is napkins then the person should let you know that and say if you don't want to contribute napkins may I call on you for the next party for some baked goods.

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't do well being "told" what to do for something that is supposed to be voluntary..... I wouldn't like it. I think a sign up sheet is better and everyone should NOT have to contribute at least once- some people can't afford to. We can afford it so I'll send something for every party (and I'll ask what they need to.... just don't TELL me what to bring).

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I have 3 kids and my oldest is a Freshman in HS, so I have many years of room parenting behind me, as well as years not as a room parent.

One year, a parent called and said that she loved to bake and offered to bake whenever it was needed. We were thrilled, because with so many moms working (outside the home), baking was a hard one to get people to do.

I've also learned to say "no". I avoid doing much of anything for Thanksgiving now because we go away and I'm just too busy. I've also said "no" when I've gotten last minute phone calls (if it really was inconvenient)...my pet peeve!! On the other hand, I've gotten last minute party requests from the teacher (two days before the party to celebrate that the kids took state tests ) and I just didn't feel I could call other parents that late, so the other room mom and I did it all (pizza, chips, juice).

It can be a pain on both sides. My advice...call the room parent and let him/her know what you'd like to do. And ask about doing something else if you're called for something specific you'd rather not do...maybe it will all work out the way you'd like. Good luck!

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by MaryAnnDVC

One year, a parent called and said that she loved to bake and offered to bake whenever it was needed. We were thrilled, because with so many moms working (outside the home), baking was a hard one to get people to do.
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Thats my point. In my case I would have no problem baking(even more than once) and yet Im assigned paper products. Im not complaining, and at least I dont have to worry about how to get them there(if DS drops them onthe bus, no problem), but I just thought it was strange we were told without even being asked. I think its too late to call now because it looks like the room mother put a lot of of work into her chart of who is doing what for which party(Halloween, Holiday, Valentine, End of year) and I wouldnt want to mess it up on her.

 

[whirlsy]

This was too funny to read, I just got back from my dd class~she is in second grade~ and I was asked to bring napkins~ I too am the type of person to make cute cupcakes ~ cookies~ dirt cakes you know creative things~ well three of my best friends also have children in the class and absolutley (sp?) hate baking~ so we just got done laughing about the same thing.I was going to bring the napkins and then make something I knew no one else would make so no duplicates~ my friends wanted me to trade but I think its important for them to "make" something just once for their childrens party.

 

[Cindy B]

Being the room parent, I did have a sign up for names. When the time came, I just threw it out there for the parents to decide.

Most didn't like to bake, so there were a few brave people that did.


Every parent was just happy to contribute.

If you have a conflict, talk to the teacher, trust me there will be other parties throughout the year, usually three or four per school year so you will get a turn...


ANd if a parent said well, I'd rather do something else, I would say "contact the parent that is doing it, and work it out between yourselves, I just want to see it done "

Room parents sometimes get very specific requests from the teachers as well, sometimes the teacher brings in things, or has the kids make thier own treat.. its all different depending on the teacher.

Your son is in kindergarten, right? You will have many many years doing school parties... don't worry!

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by Cindy B
If you have a conflict, talk to the teacher, trust me there will be other parties throughout the year, usually three or four per school year so you will get a turn...

Like I said, Im not complaining and I dont have a problem with it, I was just curious as to how its usually done. Its definitely not worth making more work for myself between phone calls and notes, etc... Im the "do what they tell me and keep my mouth shut" type, however I would have preferred to get to pick what I wanted to do for the kids as opposed to being told. I was mainly wondering if that is the norm.

And yes, we do have 4 parties, Halloween, Holiday, Valentine, and end of the year, but each kid is assigned 1 thing for only one party(there are 23 kids in the class).

 

[Wendy]

Another room mom here! Here's how I do it. At the beginning of the year, I send out questionnaires to each of the parents. There's a place to check off which parties you can help with, and what you prefer to do. (Baked goods, drinks, paper goods, crafts, read a story, organize a game, etc) I also ask which parents can attend the parties and help out.

So far, this has worked out great. A couple of weeks before the party, I start calling the parents that said they were willing to help and ask them to bring something they checked on their questionnaire at the beginning of the year. If they ask for something different to do, I always give it to them and find someone else to bring what I had planned for them. Luckily, our schools have very involved parents and finding enough help is never a problem.

 

[CamColt]

I like that Wendy! Thats a great way to do it.

Also, what do you guys do about any allergies in the class? In preschool the notices always said not to bring in anything containing this that or whatever. From talking to the nurse, I was under the impression the room mothers would know about allergies and make it known to the other parents. However, in this letter where everyone was told what to do, there was no mention of any allergies in the class(including DS's peanut allergy).

 

[Cindy B]

As for allergies, I made sure the new room moms (all THREE of them!) knew about my daughters chocolate/apple juice allergy...

It may not be written, so I told them verbally. The teacher is also aware of it as well.