There are many fun ways to celebrate special events in schools. Check out these ideas.
For Birthday Fun:
What a teacher can do:
- Make a crown, button, sign or banner for the birthday child.
- Allow the student to pick a book and ask a parent, principal or special person in the child’s life to come and read it.
- Have the birthday child be the special helper or line leader for the day.
What a parent/caregiver can do:
- Check with your child’s teacher if you would like to bring in a special snack for a celebration.
- Provide a healthy snack like fruit, mini-muffins, low-fat popcorn or yogurt parfaits instead of cookies, cupcakes or ice cream.
- Give small “goody bags” to the classroom made up of fun items like pencils, erasers, temporary tattoos, stickers, crayons or other inexpensive items.
- Instead of a special snack, suggest a special activity or craft that you could make with the class.
- Give a small gift to the classroom in honor of your child. Check with the classroom teacher to see if there are any special wanted or needed items.
- Donate a book to the library in your child’s name.
Other healthful celebration ideas:
- Allow the class to have a few extra minutes of outside time.
- Have a dance party or find a different activity to promote exercise.
- Provide parents with healthy ideas for birthdays and other classroom celebrations.
- List only healthy items on the snack or party sign-up sheet.
For more healthy celebration resources, click here!
Contributor
Sarah Pechar, Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady County
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