party bags at school

[maisym]

Today was cleaning teeth and healthy eating day at pre school & my dd3 had to take in a wash bag with toothbrush & paste plus a healthy snack.

She comes home with a sweet filled party bag (half gone) as there was a birthday in the class. The parents had made party bags for all in the class and they'd been handed out to the children.

It was also healthy day at school & my dd3 had taken some yogurt in - but instead no one had anything healthy just choc cake for the birthday. Her yogurt had to go in the bin as it had been in the warmth all day.

I just hate it that little kids are given bags filled with sweets & parents not asked - even more so that is was healthy eating day - ahhhh!!!

This really bugs me at our school too. Don't know when this 'tradition' began. I know it's a bit nanny-ish of me but my heart sinks (OK, not very low) when they come out of school clutching a little bag of haribo or something because it was someone's birthday or a child has returned from holiday.

Once they get to secondary school, parental control of this sort of thing goes out of the window anyway but until then....(cue manic control freak cackle etc)

I think it does send mixed messages. I'd have no problem with a slice of cake - more befitting of a birthday and celebratory. But cheapo sweets? Its a bit of a non-gesture really.

agree on the carrot cake - it is as rich & sugar loaded but it's just different to the huge choc cakes that are always brought in.

In fact there's a kid in the class who's allergic to milk products & is left out from cake. When it was my turn I checked with his mum & the teacher & brought in a cake everyone could enjoy. I didn't make it but got it from the supermarket as his mum was worried.

agree mb & emmy - it's a bit like hallowean that's now a huge sweet fest.

Must say I've never sent in party bags - mainly as it's such a hassle - all the class plus the kids who come for the party. Also my bags for the party ,have a maze, a slice of cake & a lolly (probably disappointing for the kids)

Top tip for older girls: DD2's party is next weekend - half a dozen 7 and 8 year old girls, at home with a lovely pottery painting lady who helps them paint a bowl each - this then goes off with said lady to be glazed and a few days later bowl presented to each child - party activity AND party bag in one!

Yeah, OK, I might sneak a chocolate bar in too...

Whole class idea is frantic anxiety madness.

good idea emmy - hope they all have lots of fun.

my dd will be going to a science party in a few weeks - they'll do some experiments - goodness knows what will be in the part bags!!!

At my primary school some 20 odd years ago they used to have a battered old 'fake cake' which would be wheeled out in assembly complete with candle for all the birthday children of that week to come up, blow out the candle together and be sung Happy Birthday by the whole school.

Better than All Things Bright and Beautiful as I recall...(is that the title of that one??)

loved all things bright & beautiful & morning has broken.

what a splendid idea - bet everyone loved it when it was their turn. Did kids with birthdays in the hols get a chance as well?

What's a science party? Is it held in your home???

Yep! If your birthday was going to be in hols(mine usually falls in feb half term) you get your cake moment the week before break up.

I must say it seemed quite magical back then...

We bring in a cake on birthdays - my DS usually doesn't eat it as "it had jam Mummy" in a world-weary disgusted tone.

Had yummy choc cake yesterday tho for his friend's b-day - I know as his Mum is a friend of mine and made extra! Very yummy in fact.

I don't have a problem with it. They have the cake at second snack time which is in the afternoon. Having had a school-provided healthy snack and lunch already. I wouldn't be happy with sweets but my DS prob wouldn't like them anyway. Do agree that party bags is completely OTT.

Went to a party this week and the bag consisted of a little notebook, pencil and rubber and Kinder Hippo biscuit. DS ate biscuit and had actually used other stuff all week.

(He has now decided to collect Party Bags!!! Just the actual bags I think! He also wants to collect Pez containers - told him he is a bit late to make his fortune on that one!)

would be unimpressed and peed off, tbh

I have always stated anyway that ds is not to be given stuff like this. the colourings/sugar send him loopy and most of these sweets have gelatine, and so are not vegetarian.

don't really get how boiled cow hoof with a bit of coal tar extract and aded aspartame could be seen as a treat.

fortunately he is now at a poncey nursey where such foods are not given out.

maisym - the parents want to send in whole party bags and / or cake - it makes's up for not inviting the whole class to parties apparantly.

emmylou - not sure on the set up for the party - think the parents will do some experiments to amaze the kids.

Am interested to find out.

thanks for all your replies.

my dd isn't old enough for school, so i'm out of my depth here.

but my opinion - this is getting totally out of hand! ok, so there's competition as to who sends home the best party bags. and now that's not good enough - you've got to inundate the whole class at school too??? come on! a cake? fine. but a bag of sweets for each dc? totally ott imho.

At christmas at my DD's school, loads of the kids brought in presents for everyone. Now, I do the teacher and if she mentions a special friend I'll give her a fiver to choose something, but the whole class????!!!! One of the girls had even made crackers to put sweets in. I can't be arsed with all that! If it ever comes to a time where my daughter needs to buy the friendship of other kids with fancy presents or to boost her popularity that way she'll be sat down and told that they are not the kind of friends you want! Obviously it's mostly for the parents benefit but it is all very unecessary, isn't it?