Our school is very close to implementing a "no food at parties" policy too.
The ultimate responsibility of our schools is to provide an "adequate" education (while i don't agree with the definition of "adequate" that's a discussion for another forum). I've noticed in the last couple of years there is so much focus on getting those test scores up, all of the fun and traditions have been sucked out of school. And what hasn't been sucked out has been stomped down by everyone tripping over each other trying to be politically correct, i.e., changing the Halloween party to Fall Festival and the Valentine Party to Friendship Day...augh. Growing up in the 70's (before we knew what saturated fat really was) my favorite thing about my birthday was passing out cupcakes to my classmates that I had decorated with my mom.
The childhood obesity problem?? Teach kids foods are bad and they will overindulge when the forbidden fruit is within reach. We should not be banning foods but rather teaching personal resopnsibility, moderation and self-control. We're not asking to serve Sushi and Jack Daniels with a side of pig fat - just cupcakes and fruit punch. Keep kids in school 10 months a year, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week and cut recess to 15 minutes a day and gym to 1/2 hour a week and wonder why kids are getting plump?
Our PTO bylaws prohibit us from debating school policy as a group. Many individual parents have decided not to fight the "no food" rule as it will be impossible to win.
One thing is for sure, the PTO plans to continue to serve cake at the school picnic, ice cream at the annual social, hot dogs at the dance, popcorn at movie night and host dads and donuts and moms and muffins. After all, our "junk food" sales funded the new salad bar for the school, the volleyball court, the basketball court, the playground,the fitness trail - all things the school district wouldn't invest in.
I don't see anything wrong with the children receiving treats once in a while. I am a firm believer that proper nutrition and good eating habits should be taught at home. There are so many school banning treats when it's eating habits at home that cause children to become overweight. Children need to have some fun once in a while. Our students have 3 parties per year - Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day.
holly, how can you be ambivalent, its a national law, search these boards for wellness policy and you will find links to the text of the law. schools didnt HAVE to strike all party foods, just certain ones. some schools went further than necessary. if you dont like your school rule, check the law, see what your school food policy says, and ask your school board why they went overboard in interpreting the law.
i prefer the schools that have all party foods issued from the cafeteria. no safety or food handling issues, no allergy issues, and control over what they get.
too much obesity caused the new legislation that caused schools to cut back on parent brought junk food, and they had to thro the baby out with the bathwater becase allowing just juice and cookies is a slippery slope, next party its juiece and candy andice cream, and next party a goodie bag with junk to take home. you have to draw the line somewhere, so theyve eliminated the party foods brought from home al togeteher, some schools have.
its not the end of the world. what did YOU have in your classes growing up, to celebrate your peers birthdays? we all survived just fine and didnt feel we were missing out on any fun,did we? we do crafts for parties, read a book, donate it to the school library, etc. we actually like the new rules.
I guess to understand the policy, you have to think of it more like this... What's wrong with a cookie or cup of juice, when one of the children can't consume it? It's like punishing them for something totally out of their control. It's something they cannot participate in, when the parties are intended to be fun for all. IMO, food as a central focus of parties is becoming all too common anyway. Last year my son brought home a treat bag bursting with bad for you treats. These were the "take-aways" the room mom brought in. He couldn't have anything in those bags. Wow, what fun. I later found out that they also had a bunch of food snacks in the room. Again - he couldn't eat. I bet he had a wonderful time sitting in his chair watching all the other kids eat their goodies. So I say good for the school.
How about introducing some creative/interactive craft ideas to fill that time? Depending on the age, tailor the craft. Create your own t-shirt w/fabric markers. Make a picture frame or door hanger with foamies. The list goes on.
In addition, you can set up game stations with a variety of board games. Maybe playdough or block building stations, depending on the age of the kids. Word Search & Word Scramble games for older kids. And so on.
