My DD has an allergy to food coloring. The reaction is not life-threatening, however it does cause her to behave similar to a child with Aspberger’s. She is in a small-preschool class of 13… no make that 14. Fortunately, her teachers are extremely vigilant and do not let her have anything containing the stuff. Unfortunately, the others parents either forget or disregard it and send snacks (and gifts on holdiays) that contain the stuff and poor DD has to watch the other kids eat them while she has nothing or gets crackers.

Most likely this policy to prevent this from happening. I wish her school would enact something similar. Our neighborhood elementary school has banned holiday candy for this reason- to protect kids with allergies from having reactions or being left out. It is unfortunate that your child’s school isn’t following through. This is even worse than not having a policy at all!

Until manufacturers stop using peanuts, milk, artificial colors/flavors and other common allergens this is going to be more and more common. Perhaps explaining it as a health issue for other children will help them to feel sympathetic? I know my DD is aware and careful with her friends who have nut and dairy allergies because of her own and because we’ve talked about the importance of protecting them from exposure.

And the home-room mother then signing the stuff from her son – well that was just wrong if the rules are such that she and her son were the only ones allowed.

Lastly, the whole thing about a child not being allowed to participate if late – that is crap. I could understand child not being allowed to participate for their own actions that they can control (mis-behaving in class) – but being late is a function of so many other thing that the average pre-school/kindergarten kid has no control over.

My 2.5 year old is in a tot-time program at the local nursery school and I like the way they handle special events. Because of peanut allergies in the school, they don’t allow any baked goods from parents, but you can bring hoodsie ice cream cups along with special napkins for birthdays. On holidays, they have a sign up sheet for what they need (plates, cups, napkins, etc.) and they provide the treat. I like this because sometimes it seems there are enough birthdays and special events to make everyday a party and this keeps them from becoming sugar/junk fests. This valentines day, they sent home a note saying they would have a party and exchange cards. My son came home with a decorated bag full of cards, a container of pink playdough from his teachers (cute!), and one “goodie bag” filled with hershey’s kisses that had no name on it so I’m not sure if it was from the school or a child. I had asked about candy and they said not to send it, but since they didn’t send an official notice they must not have felt too strongly.

It sounds like your school needs to either rethink it’s policy or back it up and I think you should speak to or write a letter to the director to let her know how flummoxed you are by the evident contradictions. You likely won’t be able to change what other parents do, but if you were to mention at pick-up time how frustrating the policy was in relation to the reality, maybe some other parents would pipe up and you could get a dialogue going so you could suss out the general feel of the crowd.

Oh well…sorry to rant on your blog post! Love your blog, BTW!

If you have strong feelings about the need for healthy treats, make sure that what you send clearly communicates that. If half of what my child receives is homemade granola bars, or organic rasins I would get the picture, wouldn’t you?

The important thing is that your child enjoys the holiday, and that you don’t create strife with other families. If you are pretty sure most other moms are okay with extra goodies coming home, then encourage your daughter to give! Don’t worry so much about the school, they go through this EVERY YEAR, it’s not like they don’t know what’s going to happen!

My oldest daughter is in junior kindergarten this year. I have prepared special goodies and sent special snacks for every holiday and her birthday. Last week, a note came home requesting ONE parent to volunteer to bake a cake or cupcakes to avoid having too many treats in the class. I panicked a little, because I had promised my daughter that I would send special cookies.

So I called the school, and in the end, I sent the cookies. Two dozen of them. But what’s the big deal here? Special occassions should be celebrated, and while I can certainly understand the “no elaborate gifts” (IMO, gifts should be given at home, not in the classroom), where’s the harm in a cookie or special snack, even if half the children bring them?

I would have sent the bags. Save them for Easter and send them then. The ducks sound cute!

But in the case of strongly worded letters telling parents not to bring in goodies, I definitely think the preschool should send any goodies back home with the rule-breaking parent. That is the only way to change the behavior since the parents at that school have obviously learned the letters mean nothing.

I guess I’m a spoilsport, though. I think school is for learning, socializing and playing. Not for parties and unhealthy snacks. Save that for your kids’ friends after school at your house.