Please, treats and the like are a normal part of elementary school. We did it when I was a kid so I am not surprised that people are doing it today. My son was excited to bring treats for his birthday in Kindergarten. He has a summer birthday and was bummed he wouldn't be able to do something. His teacher sent out an email saying that she would assign summer birthdays a day if they wanted and he was thrilled. He loved the treat and being the center of attention, like pretty much all kids do. His first and second grade teachers have changed the game by not allowing treats and asking that parents send in a book for the classroom. The kid still gets a silly hat and a birthday treat, a pencil or something. The other kids sing happy birthday but there is no extra treat. I am pretty sure it is because the Teachers find it disruptive to the class routine and not because of a worry about obesity. I also wonder if it is because not every kids family can afford to bring in a treat for 30 kids. I don't have a problem with the rule change, DS is less excited about bringing a book and didn't ask last year. His classmates seemed to not care that there were no treats. If his third grade teacher allows treats, we'll bring in donuts for DS like we did in Preschool. |
My kids brought in treats until 4th grade, then they didn’t want to anymore. The teachers preferred we send them in in the morning so they could determine the best time that day to hand them out. |
Are you talking about all MCPS no bday celebration is allowed in any form inside the school? Is it written in MCPS policy on website or depends on each school/classroom policy? |
There are so many examples to choose from that describe helicopter parenting. Sending cupcakes in to school is not one of them. |
MCPS - allowed to bring a non-food treat (keychain, slap bracelet, etc). No parents. |
At the very least. |
But only at a pizza party where there is four slices of pizza for each child and the pizza comes from a high end pizza dealer. |
Our school has no issue with this. If they have a kid with an allergy, they let you know. You bring the cupcakes in, leave with teacher. You do not attend. |
DCPS, fyi. |
FCPS just changed their rules (or maybe it was just our school) and asked that people not bring in treats for allergy and equity reasons. I did bring it treats last year on our twins bday. Some parents also come in to read a book on their bday, which is a nice option. |
I just send in treats if the school allows it. I don't go in to serve them anymore.
We also are super careful to only get prepackaged, labeled treats that don't have the allergens that some classmates are allergic to, so that all the kids can have the same thing. Last year we did the prepackaged rice crispie treats because that checked all the boxes - no gluten, no nuts, and one child was diabetic. We sent the info ahead of time so her parents could help with the calculations for the insulin pump. Kids are so on top of allergies these days and schools work on empathy, so we have never sent in something that any kids were allergic to. It hasn't been that hard to accomodate. |
I forgot, a couple of years either the school had a rule about treats or we couldn't find something that met all the requirements, and those years we sent in silly erasers or mechanical pencils. |
Good intention but that is the worst for a diabetic kid and vegetarians. Its not hard to accommodate but the problem is this that even when you try, you cannot meet all the kids needs in less you know them all and truly try. (yes, I have gotten separate food for vegans and other health issues but most parents do the one size fits all). |
I like to send in cupcakes but we cannot and not a big deal. We just do a huge party and invite the majority of the kids instead. Problem solved. Our school would rather kids play on chrome books than do something fun and engaging. |
My parents always let us stay home from school, it was one of our "gifts". Not sure if I will do the same |