Does your child's public school allow homemade treats for parties?

[mtemm]

our school not only doesn't allow homemade treats, there are no parties at all with any kinds of treats. the only thing that has ever happened so far is my kids k/1st teacher (they looped) would have something called "party in a bag" at the end of the year, when the kids got to bring in special treats for snack...only they got to eat what was in their bag, but it was as close to a party with treats our school does.

 

[torinsmom]

We were told at orientation that nothing homemade was to be brought in. Everything was to be prepackaged...including fruit. However, at the fall party, one of the mothers brought in sliced up apples from a big bowl and they were distributed with no problem So I'm not sure what the policy is exactly.

Yeah, that is a hard one. We have parents bring in snack every week for the class, and apples and other fruit cannot be cut. We cut them at school. I ask parents not to bring in oranges, because it is a lot of work for us(most PreK/K kids cannot peel an orange)

I think it is mainly because of sanitation. You may be very careful when cooking treats, but someone else may have cats crawling all over the counter, kids sticking their dirty fingers in the batter, etc. If a child eats a cupcake made by Food Lion at school and gets sick, the parent can go after Food Lion. If it is made by a parent, they will most likely go after the school.

And, yes, allergies are a problem. Its a sad fact that you cannot trust some people to read a warning about what not to add to a recipe. If a parent uses peanut oil in cookies, for example, in asking if the recipe includes peanuts, they may say no(because they are thinking of actual peanuts). We have a DO NOT BRING section on our snack list, which includes peanuts, and you would not believe the people who bring in PB crackers. At least packaged snacks have a label, so we can check if our allergic kids can eat them. I know we could ask the allergic child to bring in a snack from home every day, but I think that makes them feel less a part of the group.

 

[taylor3297]

Around here (NC), I have never heard of a public school that allowed parents to bring in homemade treats for parties. Where do you live and does your child's public school allow them?

Wake County allowed homemade treats until about 7 years ago. At an elementary school many kids and parents got sick due to a dish that was made at home. The school was having an international festival and people would bring in a dish from their country. So after that happened, homemade food of any kind was forbidden. Of course they added the allergy reasoning too.

 

[descovy]

no

 

[LaraK]

Its all because of the allergy kids- can't read labels if its homemade. Instead of them just having their own "safe" type treats they just say no kids can have home made stuff brought in.

Although your resentment radiates from this post, those of us with really allergic kids don't let them eat anything anyone makes outside of our homes....ever. Our kids know it too....we have safe boxes in the schools and eat from there when any treats are brought in.

If I really wanted to be a witch, I could demand that all food is banned from the classroom at all times. It's within my legal rights, but I don't do that because I DO care about the other kids. I don't want them to bend to meet my kid's needs.

Of course, their parents don't get to listen to their kid cry because the other kids tease him because he's "different" and has to eat out of his special box either. Kinda sucks.

 

[Cinderella94]

Although your resentment radiates from this post, those of us with really allergic kids don't let them eat anything anyone makes outside of our homes....ever. Our kids know it too....we have safe boxes in the schools and eat from there when any treats are brought in.

If I really wanted to be a witch, I could demand that all food is banned from the classroom at all times. It's within my legal rights, but I don't do that because I DO care about the other kids. I don't want them to bend to meet my kid's needs.

Of course, their parents don't get to listen to their kid cry because the other kids tease him because he's "different" and has to eat out of his special box either. Kinda sucks.

I noticed that too but wasn't sure how to say anything. I'm glad you did .

 

[torinsmom]

Wake County allowed homemade treats until about 7 years ago. At an elementary school many kids and parents got sick due to a dish that was made at home. The school was having an international festival and people would bring in a dish from their country. So after that happened, homemade food of any kind was forbidden. Of course they added the allergy reasoning too.

Oh, I know it hasn't always been banned. We used to get all kinds of treats when I was in school. In another thread, someone said that they didn't believe many schools have this policy. Looks like its about 50/50 so far. I imagine it is more common in private schools than public.

 

[msjprincess]

I'm in NY in our District we're allowed to bring in homemade treats. But I know a lot of nearby Districts that don't allow it.

 

[goofy67]

2nd grade teacher here. Our policy says no homemade goodies but it is usually up to the teacher to enforce it. As for students with allergies. I've only had one with a peanut allergy and I REALLY worked hard to make this child feel a part of every party that I had. I would go to the store myself and purchase items as close to what the others students had that were safe for her and the nurse would check it for me. On Halloween I always make a witch's brew in a big black pot-it has items in that aren't safe for peanut allergies. I got a small black pot and substituted items that were safe and checked out by the nurse so this child could participate with the other students and not be left out! There are ways for these children to not just sit there with snacks from home or a bag of chips you just have to go an extra little bit for them. You wouldn't believe how happy this child was that somebody did this for her besides her mom.

 

[MariDisney]

We are in South Eastern PA and allowed home made treats.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

California here . We aren't allowed to bring homemade treats, either. California passed the law about two years ago, right before my oldest started kindergarten. While I'm sure allergies factor into it, my understanding about the reasoning behind the law (in our state, anyway) is that a professional kitchen will ensure healthy handling of all foods. We can still bring cupcakes, they just need to be bought from a local grocery store or bakery. It's really sad. Now, if I want to bring in a healthy treat for my DD's birthday, I have to spend an arm and a leg at Whole Foods. They are really encouraging non-food items for celebrating altogether, however, and if you do bring a store-bought treat it has to be given to them outside of the classroom at the end of the school day.

 

[java]

NJ here and homemade treats are encouraged!

 

[Rora]

3rd grade teacher here... not allowed to bring homemade food in due to a whole big list of reasons.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd is almost 20 and they had the no homemade treats back when she was in K. Missouri was one of the first to adopt it way back when because we had an incident of hepatitis which started it way back when.

Even now to work in most food service you are required to get the Hep A shot.

 

[HelenePA]

My kids brought home some homemade treats so I guess they are allowed. One got cookies, another pretzels with chocloate on them, and home made tombstones.

 

[disykat]

Exactly, we must live in areas where common sense hasn't died yet.

In the last two districts I've worked in (recently) homemade treats are allowed. Where I worked before homemade treats have not been allowed in decades. I started in 1984 and that was the rule then and it still is.

It had nothing to do with food allergies. It was all about food borne illness. Any cooking for school purposes had to be done by someone with a food handlers licence in an approved facility. One case of salmonella and a lawsuit could cost a school district lots of money.

 

[Cinderella94]

I would much rather have store bought "crap" than something made in your kitchen with dog hair, baby slobber, and who knows what else floating around in it.

 

[mhsjax]

Although your resentment radiates from this post, those of us with really allergic kids don't let them eat anything anyone makes outside of our homes....ever. Our kids know it too....we have safe boxes in the schools and eat from there when any treats are brought in.

If I really wanted to be a witch, I could demand that all food is banned from the classroom at all times. It's within my legal rights, but I don't do that because I DO care about the other kids. I don't want them to bend to meet my kid's needs.

Of course, their parents don't get to listen to their kid cry because the other kids tease him because he's "different" and has to eat out of his special box either. Kinda sucks.

That stinks that kids are teased. I am more and more thankful I live where I do. We do have kids with allergies but somehow we are still allowed to bring treats in. The teachers are very careful and now each of the kids allergies. Also, mine has an intolerance to dairy,(meaning you will see it agin in 2 hours after hearing him scream for the 2 hours) and there are several kids with peanut and nut allergies. Not one of those kids gets teased. I keep hearing about teasing and bullying and really, we don't have that much here.

 

[disykat]

That stinks that kids are teased. I am more and more thankful I live where I do. We do have kids with allergies but somehow we are still allowed to bring treats in. The teachers are very careful and now each of the kids allergies. Also, mine has an intolerance to dairy,(meaning you will see it agin in 2 hours after hearing him scream for the 2 hours) and there are several kids with peanut and nut allergies. Not one of those kids gets teased. I keep hearing about teasing and bullying and really, we don't have that much here.

You may not hear about it, but it's there. I don't know anyone with a peanut allergic child that hasn't had an incident or two. The one that comes to mind first was a kid telling my child "here, eat some peanut butter I want to see you die." We try not to dwell on those incidents, but they happen.

That said, it drives me INSANE when people try to blame food allergies for any kind of food rules. Like I said before, 25 years ago I taught in a district that had the no homemade food rules and it had NOTHING to do with food allergies. Salmonella, hepatitus, botulism, e coli, etc. are a much more widespread concern.

 

[mhsjax]

You may not hear about it, but it's there. I don't know anyone with a peanut allergic child that hasn't had an incident or two. The one that comes to mind first was a kid telling my child "here, eat some peanut butter I want to see you die." We try not to dwell on those incidents, but they happen.

That said, it drives me INSANE when people try to blame food allergies for any kind of food rules. Like I said before, 25 years ago I taught in a district that had the no homemade food rules and it had NOTHING to do with food allergies. Salmonella, hepatitus, botulism, e coli, etc. are a much more widespread concern.

All I can say is that the kids I know that have these allergies have said that they have never been teased. I do believe that they happen, and I am sure that it has happened here, but I can guarantee you, it isn't something that happens often, and only very rarely.

When I was in school, back in the dark ages, we were allowed home made treats. I think it comes form people being sue happy and they school doesn't want to be responsible. Can't say that I blame them. Like I said, we have them here, no problem, and believe it or not, the kids here really don't get teased about their allergies. In fact I have watched kids say things like oh bummer, and then go on about their business. Sorry you have to deal with it, it sucks. No other word for it.