Reply to "Spring" Egg Hunt for DCPS PK Class

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Reply to ""Spring" Egg Hunt for DCPS PK Class - Is this usual?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays[b] brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday.[/b] At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class. [/quote]

Your child is 4 so you haven't had a lot of in-school experience yet, but there will be discussions among the kids about holidays regardless of what the school does or doesn't do.  Conversations about Christmas, Hanukah, Ramadan - whatever the holiday - it's all going to come out at some point.  And managing your own child's reaction to those discussions is part of parenting kids in a diverse community.  My oldest was upset when several of his Jewish friends told him that Santa wasn't real and talked about getting presents for 8 days in a row.  The discussion happened in the classroom.  What can you do? Kids are going to be kids.  [b]School is the time when kids start to learn and appreciate that other families are different from their own.  I am not sure discouraging those conversations is a good thing.[/b]

I will also add that there are lot of community egg hunts in public parks around this area - there's even an Easter Egg Roll at the White House - so it's certainly not a religious celebration.  That said, you can always have your child opt out or miss school that day if you are uncomfortable.[/quote]

I completely agree with this. I was not raised Christian, while DH's family is evangelical. As a result, we've had to introduce the concept that "different families believe different things, and that's okay. Your job is to be KIND and respectful, even if you don't think they're right" very early. It's easier and better to start having these conversations when they're young. We live in a diverse urban area, you just can't shield your child from differing beliefs, even if you wanted to. My DCPS kids also learned about Hanukah, Kwanzaa, etc. in school. It may vary by school, but DCPS as a whole makes an effort to be inclusive. I think it's a great idea to send a note if you haven't heard about other celebrations from your child. But ask for information, don't start off by assuming and judging. [/quote]

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