schoolkids and birthday treats

[shelbyjosh]

I was asking another mom today...what grade do we stop making cupcakes/cookies for kids birthdays? DD will be in 4th grade in the fall and I wonder if she will want them for her class in the fall? When do you draw the line??

 

[wendyl]

When I taught middle school, we had Moms bringing in those giant cookie "cakes" all the time for kids' birthdays--sometimes cupcakes, sometimes regular cake. Our Middle School went up to 9th grade, too.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I make them straight through elementary school.

 

[Otto's Doll]

DS wanted them this year - 5th grade, but I'm pretty sure it is not an option once he goes to middle school in the fall.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

My kids are in middle school and they have brought in krispy kreme donuts. At least I'm not making cupcakes for 30 anymore (altho at times I miss it )

 

[Kallison]

I work in a middle school 7-9th, I only had one girl bring them in last year out of 125 students on our team. I make them up until 6th grade. I used to make 75 beach cupcakes with the little umbrella, beach chair out of gum, etc. This year I told this kids too much work and made green Shrek cupcakes. They were cute, but the stupid little candies cost me $13. Oh well, she is only 10 once.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My 2 ds go to a small private school that goes up to the 8th grade so that is where we stop. I would say, normally 6th. I usually ask them what they want and its usually cupcakes and brownies. One kid in the class has the peanut allergy, so as not to exclude them I also send in lollipops and some fruit snacks just for her.

 

[disneychrista]

I took them up until they stoped asking. 4th grade for my younger DD and 5th grade for my oldest.

 

[mommytotwo]

My stepson was in the 5th grade and they still did birthday treats. If his birthday was during the school year, I would have given him things to share with his classmates, and then stop when he went into the 6th grade cause that would be middle school for him.

 

[stinkerbelle]

very interesting...

I heard on the radio the other day that certain schools in my area (or in the nation - I forget the scope of the story) were NOT allowing children to bring in cookies/cakes/donuts/cupcakes for birthday celebrations anymore.

sad to say - but they blame it on the obesity of young children these days.

I'm NOT saying any of your children have a weight problem...I just thought it was interesting...they are encouranging people to bring in more healthy options if they wish to celebrate their childs birthday.

I forget most of the options they listed - but I belive SF jello jigglers and fresh fruit cups ranked high.

oooo...exciting. heheheh

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

My DSIL was still bringing treats in as of last year for my DN's class, who was in 8th grade..But she would bring subs for lunch instead of cupcakes. I think as long as the teacher says it's ok, an age appropriate treat is a nice thing to do...The giant cookies sound like a good idea..OH, oh, now I'm hungry..

Stinkerbelle, what you heard on the radio is a sad look at current times, isn't it?? I thought you were going to say it was because of allergies, never occured to me that schools would do something like that because of obesity..

I wonder if we peeked inside one of the schools in that district, if we would find vending machines with sodas, chips, and candy bars...

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle

I heard on the radio the other day that certain schools in my area (or in the nation - I forget the scope of the story) were NOT allowing children to bring in cookies/cakes/donuts/cupcakes for birthday celebrations anymore.

sad to say - but they blame it on the obesity of young children these days.

What a crock!! Yeah, a cupcake or cookie every month or so as a treat for a birthday is the reason kids are obese!

I swear, everyone these days is obsessed with looking for things to blame for childhood obesity but not bothering with trying to come up with real solutions.

 

[shelbyjosh]

That would be the day my kids would want me to bring in apples or bananas for their birthday treat. Last year a girl in DD class had a pizza party. The parents brought in like 7 of those $5 Little Caesar pizzas and sone pop. I thought that was cool. Nobody had to bring in lunch unless they didn't like pizza. I think DD will still want cupcakes!!:space: DD wanted that space thing!!

 

[dizagain]

Both DD's, entering 3rd and 5th will probably still want to bring treats through elementary. However, our district banned anything homemade last year, and we're not allowed to bring in anything not in it's original packaging!!! My girls used to choose Rice Krispie Treat lollipops, but now their fav is Krispy Kreme donuts. Oh yeah, they gave us this list of "nutritional" suggestions and a list of banned foods - I guess it's for the obesity reason, not sure because it makes no sense. We can send in all the chocolate we want because it has milk in it!!!

Anyway, my school isn't quite as strict as some others, and at parties we may still have soda if we choose. I miss baking treats for my girls, though!!! I feel almost guilty when I buy goodies - like I'm not being a good mom or something!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I stopped when they went to middle school.

 

[disykat]

My opinion won't be popular, I can tell.

Personally, I think it should stop after about first grade. My reasons are mostly about the disparity between the children - some parents go all out for their little princesses and others just send their kids to school like normal. What used to be a family occasion starts to turn into a full blown birthday party at school for each child. I just think it's another "limo for 5th grade graduation" opportunity where people can one-up each other.

My reasons also have a little bit to do with obesity, I guess. I just think that there is a point when children need to realize that there are more ways to feel special than FOOD. A few special priviledges for the day and classmates singing Happy Birthday should be plenty IMO. The years I have sent food in to school for my kids it gets ridiculous. Treats for the class, a cake for the family party, a cake for the friend party (but now it seems we're expected to provide lunch as well for that - even if the party is at 3 pm!).....it just goes on and on.

Back when I taught school it was not common practice to do this beyond Kindergarten. I taught first grade, never said anything about it, and had a request to bring in Birthday treats about once a year. I had a badge the birthday child wore, they had a present on their desk when they arrived, we sang Happy Birthday, they got to be line leader. That was about it. We had a bulletin board with everyone's birthday on it. At one point during the year we had a big Birthday party with treats, talked about when everyone's birthday was and everyone celebrated at once.
That was plenty of birthday for me as the teacher and it was apparently for everyone else too since I never heard any comments and so rarely had a parent bring individual birthday treats.