16 November 2007
33 Food Free Birthday Treats
For children with food allergies,classroom birthday celebrations can be an isolating and even dangerous event when the classroom is contaminated with allergenic foods or when an impulsive child is tempted to sneak a bite of a food that could harm him or her.
However, there are many fun and healthy ways to celebrate that don’t involve food.
1 Polaroid picture with class
2 BD child is the Line leader for the day & gets to wear a special hat or crown
3 Decorate one table in cafeteria -once a month all bd kids get to eat there
4 Special birthday seat–bd child gets to sit by the teacher for the day or close to a friend
5 Teacher/Parent buys autograph book and each student & teacher writes something nice about the child.
6 Bubbles (outside?)
7 Extra recess
8 No homework for the day
9 Lunch with teacher or parent
11 Treasure chest full of trinkets for kids to pick
12 Birthday child brings in a wrapped gift to share with the class (game/activity)
At the end of the school year it can either be donated to the classroom or the birthday child can take it home.
13 Fish bowl of teacher prizes (no homework, extra recess, playtime in the morning or afternoon, freeze dancing) Birthday child gets to pick from the fish bowl.
14 Child brings safe pet or plant for the classroom.
15 Piñata filled with trinkets rather than candy
16 Gel pens
17 Whistles
18 Postcards (local ones/zoo/museum etc)
19 Mini address books
20 Containers (fancy boxes, bags, baskets)
21 Magnets
22 Wooden building sets ($1 ea at Michaels Craft stores often on sale for 40% off)
23 Decks of cards (2 or 4 for $1 at the Dollar stores)
24 Chalk
25 Stickers/Tattoos
26 Treasure Hunt around the classroom as an activity.
27 Post-it notes (little kids love these)
28 Mini picture frames (cardboard is fine!)
29 Band aids (latex free) Kids love the girly and superhero type.
30 Play doh (less than 50 cents each for name brand)
31 Show & Tell for Birthday Child -share favorite things or baby pictures.
32 Birthday child donates book or musical instrument to classroom
33 Parent/Grandparent comes in to read a book or play games with children
source: Gina Clowes
