Helping Your Little One Succeed at Preschool

Birthdays are important to both kids and parents, and it's natural to want to mark their special day, even if it falls on a day when your child will be in their daycare center. Sure, you can always plan a party for the weekend before or after the actual birth date, but your child might also enjoy a celebration in the classroom where they spend their days. If you want to celebrate your child's birthday in the daycare center, take a look at some important tips that can help:

Consult Your Child's Teacher First

Whatever you do, do not arrive at the daycare with a cake and an armful of streamers without running it by your child's teacher first. Daycare providers are used to dealing with birthdays, and most centers have policies on how to handle them. There may be rules about what kind of food you can bring in, or about how much of the day such a celebration can take up.

Remember, your child's daycare center is responsible for accommodating children with allergies and maintaining schedules for all the children in the center. Other parents won't be too happy if their allergic child gets sick from your child's favorite strawberry cake, or if their child is overtired and overstimulated because your child's all-day party pre-empted naptime. Find out what the parameters are in your center before making any plans.

Consider Volunteering

Children feel special when their parent or another relative spends a day in the classroom. Consider volunteering in the classroom for the day, or sending a grandparent or other relative if you have to work.

Bring your child's favorite book to read at storytime, or plan a simple craft that all the kids can work on, like creating pictures using balloons dipped in paint. These are simple, low-key ways to give your child a special birthday treat and create a festive atmosphere without going overboard.

Keep Sweets to a Minimum

Whether you're allowed to bring in homemade treats or your daycare requires you to stick with sealed, storebought items, it's best to keep the sugar to a minimum. There are plenty of festive, birthday-themed treats that you can create that aren't as heavy as a big slice of cake.

For example, you could arrange cut-up pieces of fruit into birthday-themed cupcake wrappers. Cupcake wrappers can also be used to hold arrangements of treats like pretzels or raisins. If your daycare allows you to bring in home-baked goods, try something sweet, but healthful, like blueberry muffins or banana bread, instead of chocolate cake or frosted cupcakes.

Celebrating a birthday in class can be fun for your child and their friends, but you don't have to go overboard to make the day special. Some simple treats and activities can give all the kids a special occasion without upsetting the routine that young children rely on. Check out a website like http://www.cottonwoodmontessorischools.com for more information and assistance.