I have to vent! Preschool Halloween parties!

[GJM]

I don't send my extra treats back home, for fear of offending someone and making them feel like their contribution was not appreciated. I take it to the teacher's lounge

This was my thought - why not just put the cookies in the break room or something for other people to enjoy?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

this thread is enlightening. thank you all for sharing.

My pet peeve (and somewhat OT)... people who buy store-bought cupcakes to send in for their kid's birthday. I'm sure someone will come on here and tell me how great they are, but here are my reasons:
1) store-bought cupcakes stink. Teachers hate them, kids just lick off the frosting, they are a pain to clean up. (and oh yeah, they're not very good)
2) If you want to bring cupcakes, make them. It is once a year. You can't make something once a year ? I understand we work, we have other kids, obligations, etc. Plan for that... we all know our kid's birthdays.

I personally advocate for other treats... Dunkin' donuts munchkins are much better than store bought cupcakes. We make the age in a roll-out sugar cookie that the kid is turning and bake them on a stick and then a little bit of powdered sugar icing. cute, appropriate, and kids love them. I've had teachers ask me where I got the cookie cutter b/c their kid wants the same thing.

(in full disclosure, my friend gave me the idea)

Well I would agree with you in that store bought cupcakes are not as good as homemade. They also cost a fortune. However, some schools do not allow you to send in any homemade treat. It must be store bought and completely sealed with a list of ingredients on it. So it is not that parents don't want to make the cupcakes like you said. In fact many people plan on doing just that only to be shot down by the school.


Oh- and this is not directed at anyone in particular but I am so sick of hearing how "messy" certain treats are. You know what? Big whoop! Suck it up for one day! It's not like everyone is rolling their kids in icing before class every single day. You have to clean a little longer one day? So what! That's what happens in school and at home all the time. It's not the end of the world.

 

[jrmasm]

I looked them up and my 6 year old is making the spider cookies for her arachnaphobe older sister tonight.

 

[torinsmom]

this thread is enlightening. thank you all for sharing.

My pet peeve (and somewhat OT)... people who buy store-bought cupcakes to send in for their kid's birthday. I'm sure someone will come on here and tell me how great they are, but here are my reasons:
1) store-bought cupcakes stink. Teachers hate them, kids just lick off the frosting, they are a pain to clean up. (and oh yeah, they're not very good)
2) If you want to bring cupcakes, make them. It is once a year. You can't make something once a year ? I understand we work, we have other kids, obligations, etc. Plan for that... we all know our kid's birthdays.

I personally advocate for other treats... Dunkin' donuts munchkins are much better than store bought cupcakes. We make the age in a roll-out sugar cookie that the kid is turning and bake them on a stick and then a little bit of powdered sugar icing. cute, appropriate, and kids love them. I've had teachers ask me where I got the cookie cutter b/c their kid wants the same thing.

(in full disclosure, my friend gave me the idea)

Most public schools will not allow homemade things to be brought in. Everything needs to be packaged with the ingredients clearly displayed. There are too many kids with allergies.

My first year at a new school, I am sure I offended a grandma. She had made homemade cookies and I had to send them home.

This was my thought - why not just put the cookies in the break room or something for other people to enjoy?

And let the mom ask the child how the kids liked the spider cookies, then learn they didn't serve them? I wouldn't chance that.

I, for one, would never give chocolate pudding to a group of 2 year olds. Most don't know how to use a spoon effectively, and I can imagine the pudding would be on the carpet, the walls, the shelves, etc. Of course, the kids are washable, but I am not willing to spend 2 hours after school cleaning up so the kids can have pudding. Muffins or mini cupcakes are a lot less messy and I'm sure the kids would have enjoyed them.

 

[Cinderella94]

OP, sorry you're getting kinda torn apart here. 2 year olds definitely don't spider cookies and gummy worms and pudding and whatever else, and parents should be able to follow directions!

 

[Ceila]

Most public schools will not allow homemade things to be brought in. Everything needs to be packaged with the ingredients clearly displayed. There are too many kids with allergies.

While many public schools have this policy, saying "most" is inaccurate. I have friends spread out over many states, and only a couple have this in their children's schools.

 

[Scurvy]

OP, while I disagree with your opinion on some of the specific treats that were sent in and don't think parents should be expected to know why some of them were apparently inappropriate, I definitely can understand why you'd be upset that the parents ignored your sign-up sheet and just chose to bring things in. That would be very annoying!

this thread is enlightening. thank you all for sharing.

My pet peeve (and somewhat OT)... people who buy store-bought cupcakes to send in for their kid's birthday. I'm sure someone will come on here and tell me how great they are, but here are my reasons:
1) store-bought cupcakes stink. Teachers hate them, kids just lick off the frosting, they are a pain to clean up. (and oh yeah, they're not very good)
2) If you want to bring cupcakes, make them. It is once a year. You can't make something once a year ? I understand we work, we have other kids, obligations, etc. Plan for that... we all know our kid's birthdays.

I personally advocate for other treats... Dunkin' donuts munchkins are much better than store bought cupcakes. We make the age in a roll-out sugar cookie that the kid is turning and bake them on a stick and then a little bit of powdered sugar icing. cute, appropriate, and kids love them. I've had teachers ask me where I got the cookie cutter b/c their kid wants the same thing.

(in full disclosure, my friend gave me the idea)

You must not have good bakeries or cupcake places in your area. We have a local bakery and a Gigi's Cupcakes that both make cupcakes that are much better than the ones most people make in their home kitchens - and that includes me! I'd much rather have a cupcake from one of those places than almost anyone's homemade cupcakes. Plus, as others mentioned, some schools don't allow any homemade treats.

 

[mrssmee]

Oh- and this is not directed at anyone in particular but I am so sick of hearing how "messy" certain treats are. You know what? Big whoop! Suck it up for one day! It's not like everyone is rolling their kids in icing before class every single day. You have to clean a little longer one day? So what! That's what happens in school and at home all the time. It's not the end of the world.

I look at this from a different angle. I don't want my kid's teachers to have to clean up extra messes. Party days are stressful, especially with the younger ones. If there are teachers who do not think so, then God bless them. I sure was not one. I left school with a migraine on most party days, especially when I taught preschool. Now that I am on the other side of things as a parent, I go out of my way to be helpful to teachers...even if it is something as small as sending in cookies instead of iced cupcakes. It means she does not have to spend an extra half hour cleaning icing and cake crumbs off of every surface in the classroom. Sure, she could suck it up. But why should she have to? The kids are not going to care if they have cookies vs. iced cupcakes. They are just happy to be getting sugary treats.

 

[Hannathy]

While many public schools have this policy, saying "most" is inaccurate. I have friends spread out over many states, and only a couple have this in their children's schools.

I agree with this none of my kids schools have this policy nor my Sisters schools in another state.

 

[luvmy3]

OP, sorry you're getting kinda torn apart here. 2 year olds definitely don't spider cookies and gummy worms and pudding and whatever else, and parents should be able to follow directions!

So what, they shouldn't be allowed to have it even at a party? I get your point about parents being able to follow direction but nobody here is saying that 2 year olds needed these treats

 

[Mkrop]

If mess was a concern and kids that age struggle with spoons, why on earth would you choose the pudding snack vs the spider cookies?????? Why not send the pudding home?

 

[luvmy3]

I agree with this none of my kids schools have this policy nor my Sisters schools in another state.

We don't have a school wide policy but some teachers through the years have asked for pre-packaged food only in my kids' school.

 

[PebblesMom]

I'm sorry this happened to you. It's very frightening. I learned the hard way that one of our children this year "stuffs" as well. His mom neglected to tell me that he can only have one or two pieces at a time. His twin sister does the same, but she hasn't tried it with us. So now we have to watch those two like a hawk. Besides them, we have one will multiple allergies who likes to snatch food from other children, and then the normal two year olds who are up and down from the snack table because they have the attention span of a flea. (I say this with great love and a sense of humor...)

I respect the viewpoints of many of the posters on this thread, but I think it is safe to say that they have no idea what it is like to be in charge of 12 or 21 or however many children, all of the same age, but with varying levels of ability.

Whew...I have an almost 3 year old and I can not even imagine having more than one two year old at a time....with food! We went to a Halloween party today and by the end of the afternoon I was covered in punch and he was
covered in frosting! I am fine with messes (he cleans up well ), but I don't think I would like it X12! Maybe I am getting old, but I just don't remember all of the parties at school that kids have today!

 

[simba20]

Well today was DDs class party at her daycare. She's int he 3/4 year old class.

I should have made pigs in a blanket, because the party was a sweet fest. However, here's what the teacher did. The kids got on their plates: cheetoes puffs, small choclate chip cookie, a store bought iced cookie, one of my mini pumpkin cupcakes (really a pumpkin muffin with a dallop of cream cheese icing), and a package of gummy snacks -- not to mention treat bags/cups brought in by other moms.

Here's what most of the kids ate
one of their cookies or the cupcake
some cheetoes (I passed them out and only put 5 puffs on each kids plate)
gummy snacks

Most threw away their plates with food untouched or just took bites of it.

There was a package of cookies leftover and a bag of pretzels and an extra bag of cheetoes, and gummy snacks, but the teacher is thankful because she can use it all for future snacks.

Here's how DD's school handles party day:
The kids gop through a normal day, but know it's party dat, as the teacher put butcher paper of the work tables before the party. The kids stick to their normal schedule (breakfast, learning time, play time, wash up, lunch, nap time, potty time, etc.....) then after nap time at 2:00 all parties are held. Then the normal schedule is that the kids get to go outside to their respective playgrounds at 3:00 and that's when parent pick up begins. So after the party, the kids have an opportunity to run off the excess sugar. Usually the population of the center has dwindled by 4:00/4:30, so the kids are all condensed intot he cafeteria and wtach a video until they are gone.

 

[disfan07]

Our two year olds come in with yogurt and pudding in their lunches all the time. So are our 2 year olds better with a spoon than most of the ones people here know? Maybe. But we deal with pudding and yogurt on a daily basis and the mess usually consists of nothing more than we have to do anyways. Wiping a face, hands and the table. If they get really messy, we change their shirt or pants but that takes like maybe 2 minutes tops. And its never more than 1 or 2 kids.

No naps. This is preschool, not daycare. We have a 2 1/2 hour morning. Kids come one or two days a week.

We do have brown bags...we use them for crafts. I wouldn't have had time to bag them. It was a crazy morning.

Alienated grandma? Are you kidding? First of all, grandma and jr. didn't make them. Mom did. Second of all, we did eat one of the snacks jr. brought in. Mom was only asked to bring in ONE snack. She sent in TWO. Nice gesture, but more than we could use. I sounded appreciative, but we just couldn't eat everything. End of story.

Okay, see I wouldnt consider that preschool. As a PP said, that would be called moms day out.

For 2 year olds at our preschool it is 3 or 5 days a week for 4 hours per day (9-1). so 12-20 hours per week. and than we have daycare as well that goes until 6 PM.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I look at this from a different angle. I don't want my kid's teachers to have to clean up extra messes. Party days are stressful, especially with the younger ones. If there are teachers who do not think so, then God bless them. I sure was not one. I left school with a migraine on most party days, especially when I taught preschool. Now that I am on the other side of things as a parent, I go out of my way to be helpful to teachers...even if it is something as small as sending in cookies instead of iced cupcakes. It means she does not have to spend an extra half hour cleaning icing and cake crumbs off of every surface in the classroom. Sure, she could suck it up. But why should she have to? The kids are not going to care if they have cookies vs. iced cupcakes. They are just happy to be getting sugary treats.

Agree! I work in a special ed preschool class. When parents want to bring in birthday treats, we ask them to bring unfrosted cupcakes or cookies. Some of our kids are picky eaters and don't even eat sweets. Others are very messy eaters and will smear more frosting, pudding or yogurt than they will eat. It's fine if the parent wants to share a treat and take pictures of their child while we sing Happy Birthday. But with a 15 minute snack period, we don't have time for a full-blown party or meal. And with our two class sessions scheduled back-to-back, we don't have time for extra cleaning. One group eats and leaves while another group is arriving. We have to keep things simple to stay on schedule, keep our kids focused and keep behavior in check.

 

[disfan07]

I don't see the big deal either. I work in a really nice daycare and the have a color party every month. They have an insane amount of junk and sweets. We sugar them up and send them home! Yes, it's messy and can be stressful but we also have a bunch of junk food left over in the kitchen for the teachers!

Yeah see we're not so lucky...lol. We only get to send home like 6 out of the 17 or so kids we have during the day. The rest stay for afternoon daycare. So we feed them teh snacks early enough in the day to let them run around outside for 30 minutes before nap and hope that they crash by 1:30 when it's naptime....haha.

It makes for a fun afternoon.

 

[MichelleVW]

Yeah see we're not so lucky...lol. We only get to send home like 6 out of the 17 or so kids we have during the day. The rest stay for afternoon daycare. So we feed them teh snacks early enough in the day to let them run around outside for 30 minutes before nap and hope that they crash by 1:30 when it's naptime....haha.

It makes for a fun afternoon.

Oh...when I said we send them home, I meant we have the party in the afternoon. Most of the sweet little heathens stay all day!

 

[disfan07]

Oh...when I said we send them home, I meant we have the party in the afternoon. Most of the sweet little heathens stay all day!

lucky. yeah, unfortunately, we're not allowed to do that. We have to have the party when ALL the kids are there during the morning hours so that no one gets left out. Facility wide rule. I so wish we could do it after nap time and then send the munchkins home.

 

[marcyinPA]

Our two year olds come in with yogurt and pudding in their lunches all the time. So are our 2 year olds better with a spoon than most of the ones people here know? Maybe. But we deal with pudding and yogurt on a daily basis and the mess usually consists of nothing more than we have to do anyways. Wiping a face, hands and the table. If they get really messy, we change their shirt or pants but that takes like maybe 2 minutes tops. And its never more than 1 or 2 kids.



Okay, see I wouldnt consider that preschool. As a PP said, that would be called moms day out.

For 2 year olds at our preschool it is 3 or 5 days a week for 4 hours per day (9-1). so 12-20 hours per week. and than we have daycare as well that goes until 6 PM.

We are definitely a preschool and not a mom's morning out. We are state-licensed and all of our teachers have bachelor's degrees in El Ed or Early Childhood Ed. We have a structured morning, with lesson plans and the whole nine yards. We do parent teacher conferences, etc. Back in the day,we called ourselves a 'nursery school' but have gone to the term preschool.

Our 2's go either one or two mornings for 2.5 hours a morning. The 3's go either 2 or 3 mornings, for 2.5 hours, and the 4's go either 3, 4, or 5 mornings for 2.5 hours. We also have an extended care program for early a.m. and afternoon/early evening hours.

Maybe it's regional, but most of the church-run, non-daycare preschools around here have schedules very similar to ours.