Celebrating your child’s birthday at school has become commonplace but there’s a lot to think about.
Children love celebrating their birthday at school with a party. They have so much fun in the classroom – they eat cake, their name gets put on the board, they sing “Happy Birthday” and take a group photo. It’s a great way to make your child feel special on their big day. But it’s important to remember that every school is different, and each has their own rules and ways of celebrating. So, here are a list of things to consider when preparing to celebrate your child’s next birthday at school.
ask first
While some schools celebrate birthdays in the classroom, others might not. So it’s important to contact your child’s school about their birthday at school party policies. If they allow small celebrations, check if they have any limitations. A Montessori educator says they advise their teachers to limit what parents can bring into the classroom so they don’t feel like it’s a competition. She adds that it’s important not to make parents with financial restraints feel uncomfortable and pressurised.
every school celebrates its own way
Celebrations can come in all shapes and sizes, so find out how your child’s school celebrates a birthday at school and what you can do to help out.
A Class 5 teacher at a Waldorf School, says celebrations change from grade to grade. In Class 1, a child chooses two friends to help decorate their birthday table with items that are important to the birthday child: a cake and a handmade gift or item of nature from their teacher. The child is given a birthday crown and, before singing a birthday song and eating cake, each child whispers a special birthday wish into the child’s ear. In Class 5, the children say aloud to the birthday child what they admire in them most.
At Montessori schools, parents are invited to participate in “The Birthday Circle” – a universal Montessori celebration of the birthday – it may vary slightly from school to school. It focuses on the child’s personal life journey, highlighting milestones and experiences. Parents are asked to bring photos of their child and write what their child did or enjoyed most at each age. Once the ceremony is completed, the class sings “Happy Birthday” and the birthday child offers a cupcake to those participating in the celebration.
Read what some educators do to make birthday party at school celebrations special, click here and here.
age appropriate
Before you hit the shops, make sure you first ask your child how they feel about a birthday party at school. Once children reach a certain age, mommy bringing in cupcakes may no longer be “cool”. To spare yourself and your child, any embarrassment, why don’t you get your child to bake and bring in the cupcakes themselves?
special diets and allergies
If you’re thinking of bringing something to eat, it’s a good idea to contact the school about their policies on allergies, as well as if there are any children with allergies or specific diets in your child’s class. Make your plans around these rules and try your best to accommodate everyone. If there are children with a particular allergy, teachers often ask parents to provide a little extra for that child – for example, a gluten-free cupcake. The headmistress at Brescia House Primary School in Joburg, says to make things easier at their school, parents can place orders for cupcakes with the tuck shop, which can be delivered to the class the morning of the birthday party.
timing for the birthday at school party
The classroom schedule is very important as it gives children a sense of order and structure to their day. Children seem to be more relaxed and calm if they know what to expect ahead of time. If you’re planning a birthday at school party, find out what time of day is best for the class.
Most schools ask parents to bring celebration goodies in the mornings and the items are kept in the school kitchen until break, when they will be distributed and the children will celebrate together. Younger children tend to celebrate a little longer, older students usually spend about 15 minutes having a birthday party.
birthday at school extras
Some parents like bringing party packs to the school. Check first to make sure the school allows them. It’s also wise not to fill party packs with overly sugary and unhealthy foods, as some parents may not want their children eating them. Educators usually suggest limiting snacks with a high sugar content, only including three or four small sweets and a party favour in their party bags.
invitations
If your child is having another party after the birthday at school celebration, it is advisable to hand out these party invitations with care. If you can’t invite the whole class, the best way to distribute the invitations is to do so outside of the school environment. Contact the school and ask for the other parents’ details so you can email or mail the birthday invitations.
Alternatively, only invite a small portion of students, or just the boys or just the girls in the class. But don’t ever leave out only one or two individuals.
Read our article on birthday party problem-solvers.
extra tips for celebrating a birthday at school
Check if the school has plates and cutlery and paper cups. If not, provide them. To save costs and clean-up time, send cupcakes so only the cupcake wrappers need to be dealt with. Avoid a mess: make a vanilla rather than a chocolate cake, or leave out the sticky, coloured icing.
