Fruit kabobs for toddlers

[Anonymous]

DD's daycare limits birthday treats to two options: vanilla yogurt berry "parfait" or fruit kabobs. DD loves watermelon so I'm leaning toward fruit kabobs but wondering what type of skewers are acceptable to use for 18 month-2 year olds. At home I would probably just use the same wood ones we use for grilling and supervise closely. Not sure they're really safe to send to daycare.

Alternately, if you have a better suggestion for a healthy birthday treat I'd love to hear it because I'm not particularly thrilled about either of these options. Muffins and breads are definitely not allowed but maybe something creative with fruit

[Anonymous]

I would just do melon balls. You can buy a melon baller at Walmart for $2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just do melon balls. You can buy a melon baller at Walmart for $2.

I thought about that. It just seems so...boring...as do the other daycare-sanctioned treats. I totally get the reasoning behind the healthy treats rule, but she's super excited about this - has been talking about her birthday snack for weeks - and I just wanted to make it something special. Maybe bc my mom always did elaborate stuff for us. Truth be told I'm not all that Pinterest-y (don't even have an account) and really don't have any good ideas.

[Anonymous]

Make those fruit kabobs that look like rainbows. Like these http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/07/16/rainbow-fruit-kabobs/

And send in some fruit dip with them.

I would just use regular skewers. The teachers can supervise.

[Anonymous]

Those thin little drink stirrer/straws make great toddler skewers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make those fruit kabobs that look like rainbows. Like these http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/07/16/rainbow-fruit-kabobs/

And send in some fruit dip with them.

I would just use regular skewers. The teachers can supervise.

Except those are 1/2 uncut grapes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make those fruit kabobs that look like rainbows. Like these http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/07/16/rainbow-fruit-kabobs/

And send in some fruit dip with them.

I would just use regular skewers. The teachers can supervise.

Except those are 1/2 uncut grapes.

So cut the grapes.

[Anonymous]

You can make smoothies and give in disposable smoothie sipper cups. Easy for the kids to drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would just do melon balls. You can buy a melon baller at Walmart for $2.

I thought about that. It just seems so...boring...as do the other daycare-sanctioned treats. I totally get the reasoning behind the healthy treats rule, but she's super excited about this - has been talking about her birthday snack for weeks - and I just wanted to make it something special. Maybe bc my mom always did elaborate stuff for us. Truth be told I'm not all that Pinterest-y (don't even have an account) and really don't have any good ideas.

Boring for whom? Just do cut fruit. If you want to jazz it up make the presentation pretty:
http://www.watermelon.org/images/Carvings/HighRes/ButterflyBasket.jpg

Or get really big strawberries and do yogurt dip.

Please no sharp pointy sticks, straws, or skewers for 18 month to 2 year olds. Teachers shouldn't have to "supervise" this closely.

[Anonymous]

Melon Hearts on Popsicle sticks
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bieH-shASYc/S9T2c30wfDI/AAAAAAAAHvw/U0dJWOZcRvs/s400/fruit.jpg

[Anonymous]

Can you use lollipop or even popsicle sticks instead of skewers?

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. Big chunks of fruit are a choking hazard for toddlers and skewers can be used as weapons.

Choose a snack that is easy for tiny tots to eat.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. You've pretty much reaffirmed my sense that anything on sticks is not really appropriate. We will probably just do the yogurt parfait a and be done with it, even though it doesn't seem all that special since they have yogurt twice a week.

[Anonymous]

What a sad preschool.

[Anonymous]

Hi op,

Not sure if it's too late for your child's birthday, but what about a fruit salad, use a cookie cutter to cut the watermelon into one of your child's favorite shapes. I did this for two parties and everybody loved it. Kids included