Isabella is excited about her upcoming fourth birthday. She has begged her mother to buy a “ big birthday cake” that she can take to school on Thursday and share it with her preschool classmates during the afternoon snack. Isabella also wants her mother to buy party hats, noisemakers, birthday napkins, and small trinkets for the children to take home “ just like the other kids brought.”
Isabella is the third child in her classroom who will celebrate a birthday this week. Her teachers know how important these occasions are for the children but have concerns about the amount of unhealthy, sugary food that is involved and the added expense for families. The teachers also understand that parents don’t want to disappoint their children and may feel pressured to provide a special cake and all of the ancillaries (e. g., hats, noisemakers, trinkets) that others have brought.
1. What healthy alternative foods could parents be encouraged to bring in place of birthday cake?
2. Is it the cake or attention that makes a birthday celebration special from a child’s perspective?
3. Suggest and describe at least four alternative ways ( that don’t involve food) children’s birthdays that could be celebrated at school.
4. What policy could be put into place to avoid the issue of “ too many” parties?