1. TIME
I already have a hard enough time fitting everything in to our regular classroom day! If I have games, activities, all kinds of junk food, meltdowns, etc….that is taking up some very valuable instruction time for me and I just can’t justify it!
2. HEALTHY EATING/FOOD ALLERGIES
One: I feel like most kids get enough junk food in their every day life. I don’t want to contribute to it.
Two: With so many food allergies, I’m paranoid and don’t want to worry about hidden ingredients in lots of different goodies!
3. OVER-STIMULATION!!!
Kids already get excited and emotional around any sort of holiday or special event. I don’t want to contribute to the chaos. I’ve seen SO. MANY. little ones have emotional meltdowns (crying, fighting, etc.) around any holiday and it’s no fun for anyone!
Besides the sugar rush and meltdowns, lots of kids do not like things that are too loud, too busy, lack structure, or are totally off of the normal school routine.
4. MESS/WASTE AND CLEAN UP
Many of the goodies that people bring (read: CUPCAKES) are SO messy and half the time the kids eat the frosting and trash the rest anyway. Then, they’re covered (along with desks, etc.) in frosting that is filled with what seems like a permanent dye of some kind! Not to mention crumbs on the carpet, which in the desert can mean lots of different kinds of critters coming in. Yuck.
And, back to number one, if I don’t have a good parent helper in there, I get to be the one who cleans it all up when I could be: planning, preparing, leaving, etc.
That leads to number five…
5. LACK OF HELP
Some years, I’ve had great parent helpers that bring the goodies or little games, but other years, not so much…and, sensing a theme here, it would all fall on ME.
WHAT DO I DO TO CELEBRATE WITH MY LITTLE ONES?
- I ask a few parents to bring some healthy treats (apples, fruit tray, yummy veggies with ranch, etc.) and one set of cookies, after checking classroom allergies. No cupcakes.
- I have a few coloring pages or thematic activities for them. Most of the holidays, I’m giving some kind of gift, so they can read their new book or work on whatever it is with friends, too.
- We play music or something thematic on the smart board to set the ambience.
- My parties are generally the last 30 minutes of the day.
- If I have parent helpers, they help serve food and wipe down tables while I visit with kids and supervise.
- It’s pretty laid back, but I still get the comments of THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVVERRRR! Kids don’t need a gigantic production to enjoy themselves. They like anything that is a little different from the daily classroom routine and celebrates the occasion.
Just my two cents on something…
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