Got a call today from the kindy teacher...in 2 weeks they will celebrate 100th day. Each child will bring in 100 items of food to share...giving 10 apiece to 9 of the other 18 children so that they each have 10 different food items to total 100! She wanted to work with me on an approved food list.
ARGHH why am I so slow on my feet. After I got off the phone I realized the only feasible solution (her way) is to get the parents to send in approved foods in original packaging ahead of time so I can double check all labels and make substitutions if necessary! Then the kids would have to count out 100 of their item AT school. Plus 19 little kids touching each others food? Nevermind YUCK, I'm also concerned about residue from breakfast! They all wash their hands upon entering the room but I've seen my son wash his hands and lately I wouldn't count on him getting any residue off his hands.
Any brilliant or creative suggestions? Holding DS out of school to make a pt won't work because he will be THRILLED about the 100th day celebration. My only thought is just to tell the teacher we will make up a baggie for ds...of course then he's left out of the fun of sharing.
It's always something. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Luvmyboys
The year my PA son was in kindergarten, they changed the 100th day activity, and just had kids count their 100 items rather than sharing them. It's still a little ways off, could you ask the teacher to alter her plan? Maybe they can each bring in non food items if she is intent on them sharing, like 100 pennies, or 100 stickers, 100 pom poms, stuff like that?
Regardless of PA, I wouldn;t want my kid to have food that other five year olds handled. Yuck.
Omgoodness! 100 food items! Anyway I look at it- this would make me nervous.
For our 100th day celebration in kindergarten- they used pennies. Never an issue w/ food in any of the higher grades either for this particular day.
Is it too late to suggest a non food celebration?
Our kids used to make 100 day posters. They would paste onto a poster 100 of some similar themed things. Spiders, ants, buttons, tic tacs anything but real food. Might be worth a try. You can get pretty creative. One kid did an aquarium with 100 fish pictures.
Peg
DS's class did what Peg said. Some of the kids were quite creative. They weren't told how to glue their 100 things on, so some made creative shapes, some even made them into "100".
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[url="http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle"]http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle[/url]
When my PA DD celebrated 100th day, she also had to make a poster of 100 items. Some of the items were really cute, only a few involved foods like PF Goldfish and Cheerios.
The teacher did use Fruit Loops for "100-necklaces" but it was pre-approved by me. I don't like the idea of sharing 100 items of food either. That would make me very nervous. Maybe you could suggest an alternative, like the poster idea. Teachers sometimes like when they have a different idea than one they've used all along.
Our kids had to creatively glue 100 items onto a posterboard. They encouraged non food items and gave a safe list of food.
Cheerios, fruit loops, pasta etc.
We glued 100 of those craft eyes that are flat on the back, plastic dome with moving black piece inside.
Since the foods were glued onto a posterboard, I wasn't so worried.
I would discuss altering the project. I would type up a list of all the risks this food project poses to your child (maybe give documentation of cross contamination/note from allergist). Then, give non-food alternative ideas. I agree not to take your child out of school for this. The school should want your child to be able to safely participate in this fun 100th day celebration. Good luck.
Oy' that is coming up...thanks for the reminder. I guess I will email our teacher adn ask if she is planning anything. We don't have a 504 yet, so kids could bring in anything into this classroom!! The food sharing grosses me out too, yuck, trading and then eating 100 pieces of anything...offer a better idea!! We did posters last year(my daughter, no food allergies)....thanks!
Quote:Originally posted by luvmyboys:
[b]
My only thought is just to tell the teacher we will make up a baggie for ds...of course then he's left out of the fun of sharing.
Luvmyboys[/b]
HI Luvmyboys,
I have been thinking about the above statement since I read you post yesterday. We have always provided our own treats in cases like this. It leaves no room for error. I see your DS is only in Kindergarten, this will be a situation you will have to deal with for a long time. Your son will have to learn that sometimes, fun or not fun, sharing can be harmful.
The "baggie way" has also been easier on my child knowing that he doesn't have to fear/wonder about eating anything. My PA DS is now in 4th grade and is pretty much in charge of his PA at school. He is well versed in the do and do nots. I did not want to put that kind of pressure on him at an earlier age. They stress about enough other things that seem like no big deal to us parents.
The other posters have mentioned some really good and fun ways to eliminate the food from this day. I hope your teacher accomodates.
Please don't be angy at my wording. I really tried not to sound judgemental, or like a know it all. Sometimes the written word is misinterpreted or misconstrued.
PP
Last year in my DS's class they had to count 100 items and bring them in a ziplock bag only. They had to be a non-food item. My DS brought in buttons. I remember some kids had paperclips, rocks, pencils, rubberbands, stickers(not all on one sheet, they had to be stuck on one by one on a sheet of paper), and one more I remember was spools of thread.
I don't like the money being brought in. Money is so, so dirty, yuck.
Jan
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