Isn't it ironic (school related).

[FireDancer]

I think using food, especially candy, as a reward is not a good idea. I personally thing using food for a reward is sending the wrong message, but to each their own.

 

[SunshineOR]

I get so frustrated with my kids' K-3 school. They use candy for rewards for reading, behaving, and maybe just for breathing. They have reward parties for test scores and achieving reading goals that are games that are rewarded with candy, or sometimes they just skip the games and do pinatas. They have pizza parties, doughnut parties, nacho parties, plus the holiday parties. They give out McDonald's coupons for treats for perfect attendance rewards. They give out tickets that can be traded for pencils, rulers........or candy. I'll send my kids to school when there is yogurt and granola on the breakfast menu and the school will serve doughnuts or cookies instead.

THEN, they constantly send home newsletters and notes to parents with healthy recipes, reminding us of the childhood obesity problems and telling us how to feed our kids healthy snacks. The school sends home notes lecturing parents about sending sodas in lunches or sending chips for lunch. We get notes reminding us that our children are learning their eating habits in the home and we need to feed them healthy foods to set their healthy habits for life. My kids eat way more junk food at school than at home and I hate getting lectured by them. Makes me so !

 

[FireDancer]

I get so frustrated with my kids' K-3 school. They use candy for rewards for reading, behaving, and maybe just for breathing. They have reward parties for test scores and achieving reading goals that are games that are rewarded with candy, or sometimes they just skip the games and do pinatas. They have pizza parties, doughnut parties, nacho parties, plus the holiday parties. They give out McDonald's coupons for treats for perfect attendance rewards. They give out tickets that can be traded for pencils, rulers........or candy. I'll send my kids to school when there is yogurt and granola on the breakfast menu and the school will serve doughnuts or cookies instead.

It sounds like your kid's teachers need to do a little study on effective positive reinforcement. Variable ratio or variable interval positive reinforcement is much more effective at promoting behavior then rewarding everything anyone does. An educator really should know this.

 

[DeniseinNS]

My daughters school does not allow candy. What they do for rewards is that when they do something really good (extra good job on their work, something nice to another child,etc...) they get a token of respect ballot. They fill the ballot out and drop it in the box at the office and each week the principal draws a few names and those children get a little toy each.

 

[tmarquez]

OP here. I got a note today from DD's teacher. She needs more candy for her "candy box". So...what's the most disgusting candy out there that no kid will want to eat? I'm gonna buy a big bag!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

OP here. I got a note today from DD's teacher. She needs more candy for her "candy box". So...what's the most disgusting candy out there that no kid will want to eat? I'm gonna buy a big bag!

r u serious? wow! LoL, how offended would she be if you sent in pencils instead

 

[minkydog]

OP here. I got a note today from DD's teacher. She needs more candy for her "candy box". So...what's the most disgusting candy out there that no kid will want to eat? I'm gonna buy a big bag!

Wow! that's some kind of chutzpah! If dear ol' Teacher wants to give out candy, I'd say she needs to buy it herself. In fact, I think I'd write her a note and let her know that you disagree with the candy awards and will therefore be sending in stickers, pencils, or other non-food things. Do you have any contact with the other parents? Perhaps it's time for several of you to present a united front with regards to the sugar-loaded treats.

 

[Minnie_me]

I have a similar irony:

In our school, the push is all toward being healthy and ACTIVE! Yet, our principal is morbidly obsese.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

RE: OP and the teacher's 'candy' request...
My hubby and I brainstormed and came up with the following:
-individually wrapped horehound candies
- uber spicy cinnamon candy
- and go to an ethnic store for exotic things like chocolate covered ants (you can claim that you are helping to expose the kiddies to culturally diverse candies!)

Seriously though, I'd send stickers, fun pencils or erasers. Both of us disagree with rewarding kids with candy (particularly when they turn around and send out notices scolding parents about what they are feeding their kids -- how RUDE!!).

 

[elbigvato]

Teacher here

Not sure if this is state or fed law but starting in JULY this sort of thing will not be legal in the classroom...or how I understand it is...a school cannot purchase it but a teacher could still buy it with their money and pass it out (which is weird!). Not even granola bars (which really hold no nutritional value anyway) can be given out.

Here in Texas, we are not allowed to sell or distribute candy, soft drinks, and the like, especially at the middle school level and below. Also, if you plan on giving some sort of food reward like a pizza party, it cannot be during the actual lunch time.

As for our school cafeterias, everything must be baked, not fried at all.