I thought this was the only way to do things, until a good friend of mine introduced me to a new idea, and my class parties have never been the same!
Instead of the normal treats, we make a big “Trail Mix.” I ask parents to send in an unopened item to add to our mix. Some examples of items they can send in include cereal, pretzels, small marshmallows, M&Ms, etc. Anything small works great! You may have to make accommodations because of allergies. For example, I always ask them to not send anything with nuts in it.
On the day of the party, I get a large container (I purchased a 50 quart plastic container with a lid to use for parties.), and I have each student pour in the item they brought for the mix. They love watching it all go in! We usually have extras, so everyone gets to pour something. I always mix it all together with a cup or by putting the lid on the container and shaking it.
Benefits:
• Students can send in items several days before the party, so you can tell the day before if you need to buy anything. Sometimes you may have too many sweet items, and you might want to get some Chex cereal or something to cut the sweetness a little.
• Some schools do not allow homemade food items. This is perfect for that situation.
• Plenty of opportunity for variety. The students enjoy bringing in seasonal items, such as seasonal colored M&Ms, candy corn, candy pumpkins, seasonal shaped marshmallows, gumdrops, and candy hearts.
• Although it’s sometimes still pretty sweet, it doesn’t seem to have the same effect on kids as mounds of frosting.
• I usually put the trail mix in sandwich or quart size plastic bags, so there is very little cleanup, and students can easily take the bags around the room for different activities. It’s also nice, because I usually have enough to make extra bags that I can just send home with the students.
So, when it's time for your next party, why not give trail mix a try? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how fun and easy it is! Enjoy!!
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