Ideas for Taking a Treat to School for Birthday

my daughters birthday was last Wed...and we were trying to bring in something on the healthier side. So we brought in a big watermelon, cut it into the usual triangles...and the kids loved it!

I saw this idea in a magazine and can't wait to try it for my own daughter. Get a melon such as a watermelon, cantaloupe, etc and cut into about 1" slices. Then take a scalloped cookie cutter and cut out the shapes to look like the base of a cupcake. Place each one in a cupcake liner. Put whip cream on the top as if it was icing and then place blueberries or raspberries on the top to finish them off. You get a healthy snack that looks like a cupcake. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I teach kindergarten and last week was the first birthday in class. Since I have a diabetic student in my class I suggested to all families to bring in a favorite fruit or vegetable. The family brought in delicious red seedless grapes that were already cleaned. The students loved them! Even my diabetic student was able to enjoy the snack with the other students. Afterwards they put the stems and the grapes that fell on the floor in the compost bin for the school garden.

Family Fun magazine had this idea in a recent issue: Mix 3 cups popcorn with some mini-pretzels, cereal (chex or cheerios etc.) and some raisins or m&m's and serve in an ice cream cone. Each child gets their own cone filled with the mixture. Look on familyfun.com for the exact recipe and how many servings it makes.

i would stick to the usual. things that dont take up to much time and dont make too much mess. Cookies are good. you can buy them with frosting on them, and bring drinks to go with them.

Depending on the age, I've done homemade muffins using decorative cupcake liners, mini muffins, bagels and cream cheese (older kids), frozen gogurts, Otter pops, big pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and then rolled in sprinkles, one large marshmallow dipped in chocolate and rolled in sprinkles.

Be sure to check with the school and teacher about regulations and allergies. Our distict has a "policy" against homemade, but we have several children with nut allergies. Kind of conflicting! So, I've been approved to make things at home and bring them in (my child is one with allergies so we need to avoid commercial bakeries).

M.,

We just celebrated my son's 9th Birthday on Sunday. Yesterday afternoon, at the end of the school day, I stood outside the classroom and as the kids exited the room I allowed them to pick out a sucker from a basket I was holding. They all thanked me with big smiles and the teacher even asked if she could have one too. It was inexpensive, not messy at all and easy to pass out. Last year I chose to have a party at school. He was in a class of 18 so it wasn't too bad. His teacher and principal agreed that I could bring in some cheese and pepperoni pizza and Capri Suns for the kids to enjoy for lunch and I passed out Oreo cakesters for dessert. Each child also got a bag of 100 marbles that I picked up from Dollar Tree. The kids even brought in cards and gifts for him. He loved it and so did his class! (It was all done during the lunch hour and was pre-approved by the teacher and principal.) Good luck and I hope her celebration turns out great!

M. in CA...Mother of 4 (ages 15, 12, 9 and almost 2)

Rice crispy treats! Yummy!

As a teacher I noticed that the kids love pencils and temporary tattos (Dollar tree) no matter what age. Also popcicles were popular and easy to pass out. Quaker bars were a nice treat as well (just check about allergies) Just make sure what ever you bring is wrapped individually - makes passing the treats out easier and less of an event and you will have a happy teacher in the end!

Hi-- I am a teacher and I've seen a lot of cupcakes come in for birthdays, but believe it or not, there are kids who don't like them! My class always likes cookies. They don't have to be the giant expensive ones--the frosted ones from the grocery store bakery were popular. The watermelon idea that someone already posted, or the fruit kabobs were items that were very well received by my 4th graders. Somehow in our society, kids expect celebrations to include food, so the pencils and toys didn't go over as well. PLEASE don't send in anything like a whole cake that has to be cut up and served with plates and forks. There really isn't that much time to spare at school! Many of you mention coming in and serving, but most of the time parents do not come in. We always celebrated at the end of the day to minimize the disruption and the possible effects of sugar. I know a lot of schools are getting more rules about what is allowed, peanuts, store bought, etc. You ought to check with the teacher to make sure it is a good day for the class and that what you are sending is OK. I had weeks when there were 3 birthdays on the same day! We really couldn't handle 3 treats that day! Have fun and Happy Birthday!

Rice crispy treats with M&Ms in them (or some other favorite little candy--or you could food-color them your daughter's favorite color). You can cut the rice crispy treats into sqaures and wrap them in plastic wrap ahead of time, so they are easy to transport (and they are cheap to make, too).

what about pumpkin muffins or fruit kabobs?

How about doughnut holes and milk or juice. You send or bring them in the morning. My other idea is popsicles at the end of the day or at last recess. If you want to avoid food, how about cute pencils,bookmarks, or erasures the kids can use in class.

Elaine has good suggestions for healthy snacks as well as non-food treats. I have taken individual ice cream cups as a treat for my daughter's birthday.

Hi M.- We just celebrated my daughter's 8th b-day and I brought in chocolate dipped strawberries and banana's. The kids LOVED them! Our school is really trying hard to promote "healthy" type treats for the children and since those are my daughter's favorites the teacher approved them. I think last year I brought in all fruit popscicles for her birthday. That went over really big too. If your school allows "other than healthy" type treats, sugar cookies are always fun.
Good luck!

Our school has a no sweet treat policy so we see some really creative ideas. As others have suggested, you can get little toys, neat pencils or even temporary tatoos from Oriental Trading or the Dollar store. Food items have included: pumpkin muffins, fruit kabobs, banana bread, or frozen gogurts. Happy Birthday to your daughter!

I've taken an Edible Arrangement basket to my son's class for his birthday celebration. The kids loved it and it was beautiful. If that's too much money you could make your own fruit kabobs.

In my daughter's school, we're only allowed to bring in treats made commercially, so I've always brought cookies to the little mini cupcakes (the teachers LOVE those for the kids).

I don't think kids ever get tired of cupcakes, so you'd be ok with those, I think.

I like to bring popsicles, I arrange it with the teacher and bring them down for the last recess of the day and the kids love them. Especially right now when it is still hot in the afternoons.

Hi M.-

I know you asked for food treats but for one of my kids birthday we bought those little compostable planting pots (you can buy them at OSH or any nursery and they were really inexpensive) and then we taped a few sunflower seeds onto each one. Then we used the potting stick labels and wrote each students name on it. It was great to hear weeks later about the progress each kids flowers were making. The kids loved it and we didn't have to worry about food allergies or anything. The kids had a great time at home preparing the gift as well. Whatever you decide have fun and wish your daughter Happy Birthday from me!

How about bagels with cream cheese or smears? Also fruit kebabs are great if the kids are old enough not to use the skewers as swords!

cookies are nice or pencils.

how about rice crispie treats or my 8yo's favorite, chocolate dipped pretzel rods! we dip the top half in melted chocolate and then sprinkle with colorful candy decorations. You can also color white chocolate and drizzle that on them.

Kids love them and they are virtually mess free.

Our school has a policy of no homemade treats but you could always bring Donuts from Yum Yum Donuts, they are open 24 hours so you could place the order and pick them up early in the morning and if you don't want the big ones you could always buy the donut holes and they have sprinkles and you could wrap two in a plastic wrap with a ribbon on it and the kids will love it. We had a boy last year bring cheese and I know the mom was trying to be healthy and us parents loved it but they were mean to the boy and I told my son to tell him that he loved the fact that he brought a healthy snack so he wouldn't be so sad.
Mini Cupcakes are always good or fruit cups with decorated cups. You could bring in the fruit tray from Lucky's and the teacher can help dole out the fruit in the cups that you decorated or bought.

Good luck!

Our school does not allow home baked goods. )-: Here are some ideas: a Mrs. Fields cookie cake, a small bakery/store cake, bakery/store cookies or brownies, fruit salad with whip cream, packaged treats like Little Debbies or Hostesses (they both have a variety of items), and bakery/store donuts.

Madelaines are tasty and small, not too sugary, and not messy. You can get a tub of very good ones at Costco -- I believe they carry Sugarbowl Bakery. Whatever brand they are, they are yummy! You can find the Sugarbowl brand at other stores as well. It's a local company, and their products are high quality. My son loves them (and the teachers can have them with their coffee!).

Due to food allergies, we have often gone with "prizes" for my son's birthdays. Examples are squirtguns, books, backpack clips, etc. I hope that helps. And Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Check with the school. I know my daughter cafeteria offers different "party packages" and it was very reasonable. It was so nice not that have to worry about it. I just had to give them like a week notice, we happened to choose cupcakes, but they had them ready with juice boxes. My husband and I went in during lunch then after the kids were done with lunch they brought out the cupcakes and ate them. It was so easy! We did it at lunch just by teachers request, but they could have been brought to the class room also. Her school even dose a pizza party if you want to feed the whole class lunch.
Anyway hope that helps some.

As a teacher I appreciate you trying to find something else besides cupcakes. Our school dostrict has actually asked parents to please send healthier alternatives, something other than cupcakes and cookies!! Some things that have been a big hit at our school are, fruit kababs, popsicals, stuff like that. I would suggest talking to your childs teacher. She may also have some good suggestions. Kids get excited about just about any kind of treat. I had a student bring fruit snacks and the class loved it. They are second graders though, and they excite easily!! Good luck and I hope you find something yummy and fun to take in for your childs birthday!!

My girls love to take fruit popsicles for their birthday treats. We've also done muffins the mini size is fun. As well as individual bags of pretzels. Cheese cut into shapes with crackers packaged into individual snack bags is also a hit.

My daughter just brought frozen cream puffs and chocolate syrup to class for her birthday, the kids loved them! She also wanted to do something other than the normal cupcakes.

I also would like to say that regardless if the other children celebrate birthdays, yours does and I think that's what's important. The other children don't need to participate if they choose not to.

Good luck!

:)

Hi The school my children go to are trying to stop sweets and chocolate treats as a few of the children must not have nuts, my daughter being one of them.

So they bring in a book. The teacher has a small list of books that they will be working from or story books they would like and they put in a sticker saying this book was from so and so on what ever birthday, this way lots of children benefit from it and its not just a five minute munch.

Hope she has a lovely birthday.

Hi M.,

That's a thoughtful question, I like it and appreciate it. How about cookie bars, like peanut butter and mini choco-chips? or oatmeal-cinnamon raisin cookie bars, those are nutritious and something a little different that the kids will like. It's easy to find a recipe online, or you could pick up a box of lemon square mix from the store, those are good too and they're also simple to make.

Have a fun Happy Birthday,
M.

Party bags or you could wrap a game or puzzle for the class and have your daughter open it in front of the class and that way it is something all of the students can enjoy throughout the year

You could ask her teacher if you could bring pizza around lunch time or a tray of fruit or fruit snacks. I

My daughter just had a birthday at her school and they brought littls Jamba Juices and she LOVED it. You would probably want to make sure no one was allergic to strawberries or whatever fruit you wanted to get but my daughter thought it was a great change.

What great ideas! Wish I thought of these for my daughter's birthday! I've also seen pizza brought to class. Just a thought.

Check first to make sure all of the children do birthdays (some religions do not celebrate birthdays), check with the teacher to find out his/her preferences and a good time to do this, find a nutritious snack. For example, my son's birthday is right before Christmas so we made reindeer snacks with rice cakes, peanut butter, pretzels for antlers, raisin eyes & red candy for nose. Maybe you could find something like this on the internet for this time of year.

Last years both of my daughters requested donuts to bring to class... not much healthier then cupcakes, but easier for the teachers and a big hit with the other kids in class. This year I really like the edible arrangement idea someone else mentioned. I'll have to remember that one.

Be sure you are clear on the school restrictions. Some schools have no homemade treats policy, some have restrictions on Peanuts or peanut products because of allergies, some have healthy food programs that restrict treats. It's very disappointing to be turned away when you have gone to the trouble of bringing treats. How about a non-food treat instead like stickers or pencils or something like that?

how about some brightly decorated pencils or erasers (often Target's dollar bins have packs of 8 to 10 with assorted cute/colorful designs)?
We usually bring Rice Krispies treats because one of our girls has an egg allergy, plus they're easy to make and the kids love them. One of my daughters said her classmate's mom brought in chocolate-dipped strawberries for her classmate's birthday last week and they were a big hit. Also I've seen parents bring in things like apples and string cheese or other healthy but fun snacks.

How about zuchinni bread with cream cheese on it? Another idea is strawberries dipped in sour cream and then brown sugar. I know it doesn't sound like it would be good but it is delicious.

My son's school does not allow any birthday treats with sugar. I was excited to see your questions and all the suggestions. We are bringing in a platter of fruits and vegetables so the kids can celebrate by "eating the rainbow" then I will give the kids a pencil or something school related from the dollar store as a favor to take home.

Thanks M. for posting this great question that every mom will face!

Doughnut holes. The teachers and kids like them.

My sons first grade teacher said that popsicles are a big hit. you could always go to www.familyfun.com they have great ideas for everything. Good Luck!

Hi M.,

I use to always bring popsicles as the birthday treat when my daughter was in grammer school since she was born late May. It's September and still warm out so a popscile is a refreshing treat! Just make sure to bring a small cooler! It's inexpensive and no need to take time out to make anything. Cookies are good too :-)

Try rice krispie treats... either homemade or store bought depending on school rules. Kids love them and they are fast and easy. I like to mix some M&Ms in with the cereal, makes them even better.

Good Luck

I suggest Rice Krispy Treats (recipe on back of box) They are easy to make and take to school. I sometimes add mini chocolate chips to them and the kids seem to love them! Good luck! K.

M.,

Out of respect for kids with food allergies I brought Bryers 100% Fruit Juice bars for my sons Birthday... given that his Birthday is the first week of school August 13th they were a huge hit, there was only one little boy that didn't like them.. I also brought enough for the parents as we did it at the end of the day right before kindergarten pick up.. I also added a box of Welches Sugar Free Juice Bars just incase there was a diabetic child or parent in the group and I was right! There was one Mom there who was diabetic..

Good luck and Happy Birthday to your daughter!!