holiday gifts in school

[chrispina]

Your child is in Kindergarten. Valentine's DayA holiday (that has religious origins but is mostly celebrated secularly these days) is coming up. It is traditional in your public school for the kids to exchange small gifts, like cards, candy, crafts, etc. with their classmates on this day and a class party takes place on this day. One student in

Comments

[ginky]

I would respect the kid not on the list thing and not give a card/gift. As for how to handle it. :( Just :(

Our preschool has gone to cards only, no favors... This happened after a peanut allergic child was given 327489072438934207 valentine's with candy that had peanuts, or was processed in a plant that also processes peanuts. Parents knew this was a peanut free classroom, and they would have never sent a peanut snack to class, but somehow didn't think twice about attaching it to a card. Luckily, she was a kindergartener and knew she couldn't have those things. When the staff was discussing what to do about it, we all admitted how much we hated how Valentine's Day had become about what cool thing you could attach to your card, and not about the card or sentiment anymore. And then your kid came home with almost as much candy as on Halloween and random plastic crap you had to throw away when they weren't looking.

[randomousity]

I agree. It's hard having to be that parent that says no to your kid, while the other kids are doing it. I said she could give a gift of friendship as long as it was not a toy, or candy. We found pencils. :)

[chrysanthemum]

We have a plan for all of the kids who can't participate. They go participate in a fun activity in another classroom. In my class, I talk with the family and find out what is and isn't ok and then run my ideas past them. I try to come up with a mix of activities that everyone can participate in and a few that maybe one or two don't participate in.

If it were my kid's classmate, I wouldn't send a gift if I knew they didn't celebrate. It only creates an awkward situation for everyone involved and gives the teacher something else to have to deal with.

Just my thoughts. So probably not even worth two cents. But there ya go

[randomousity]

As someone that doesn't celebrate some holidays, and having a friend like this in high school, I understand the other family's perspective. However, I also understand that children will be children, and it's awesome that they want to make everyone feel included