Parties for the Classroom at Kid-Party-Ideas.com

Parties for the Classroom

If you're a preschool teacher, daycare provider, or school teacher, then you know that having parties for your children in a classroom setting comes with it's own set of challenges.

The biggest obstacle you probably face is how to have a holiday party for your class on an extremely small (or non-existent) budget.

There are really two kinds of classroom parties -- Class Only Parties and Class with Parent Parties. Each party has it's good points and bad points, but the final goal is still the same... to have fun.

Class Only Parties

I think these kind of parties are difficult to plan and execute because so much of the effort and expense falls squarely on the teacher. If teachers don't plan some kind of celebration, parents are critical, but often the parents are unwilling or unable to chip in and help. The teacher is caught in the middle.

Here are a couple of general ideas to help teachers make it happen:

Plan a Cooperative Party - Get together with another teacher in the same grade and plan a party together that involves both classes. That way you can share the labor and the expense. Planning a party for 40 children is no more difficult than planning one for 20, and you'll have the added benefit of having two people to come up with the party ideas.

Make it Potluck - Send home a note with each child (or call each parent) and ask them to donate food items like candy, cupcakes, drinks, etc.

Ask Parents For a Small Donation - Sometimes you can simply ask parents for a small donation (a couple of dollars) to purchase food items for a party. Many parents would rather donate money directly rather than spend the time making food items. You will have to check with your school and state rules before doing this to make sure it is legal.

Ask the Community for Donations - Write a nice request letter your local Walmart Manager, grocery store, community center, etc. asking for specific items to help you with your party. Make sure you write well in advance of the party and be very specific about your party plan and what you would like them to donate.

Make Food Preparation Part of the Party - Food is the most expensive and troublesome parts of any party, so why not make food preparation part of the party? If you're planning a Valentine's Day party for example, you could make rice krispie treats and let each child decorate them with candy hearts, icing, etc. You could purchase store bought plain cupcakes and let each child decorate their own. You could make homemade ice cream and let each child take a turn cranking the machine. The kids will have a ball doing this kind of activity, and it will save you a little money.

Let the Class Make Their Own Decorations - With a little guidance, the class can make their own party decorations the week prior to the party. Keep all the decorations put away and then put them all up right before the party.

Party Favors, Prizes, and Decorations in Bulk - You can give each child a party favor or party souvenier inexpensively by purchasing them in bulk. The best source for these kinds of items that I know of is Oriental Trading Company. They have just about anything you can think of for any age group, and you can purchase 100 or more trinkets for less than ten dollars... and they have better prices than and quality than you can find at the dollar store.

Class with Parents Parties

These are really my favorite kind of classroom parties because they become a cooperative effort with all the children and the teacher to be the host of the party for their parents. In addition, children really love to give their parents a party and it makes them feel special when mom and dad take time out to come.

On the downside, however, it is really hard on the child whose parents couldn't come to the party. Nothing breaks your heart more than trying to comfort a child whose parents didn't come to a party when he sees that all his friends parents did come.

Once solution to this inherent problem is to send a note to each of the parents to find out if they will be able to attend. If you don't hear back from them, give them a call. Those children whose parents can't come to the party then can become special helpers during the party. Giving them an extra special job to do at the party makes them feel special dispite their parents' absense and it gives them something to keep them busy. You can also arrange to hook them up with a friend's parents during the party so that they won't feel left out. Most parents will gladly accomodate.

You can use all the same techniques above to arrange a party where parents are included. In fact, you can rely a lot more heavily on the parents' support. They should be willing to help with the food, and the kids will do the decorating.

You can also help the kids make a special party favor or gift for their parents. For example, if your class were throwing a Christmas party for their parents, then each child could make a special ornament for the parents with the date.

You could also plan some special activities for the kids to do for the parents, like sing them a special song, recite a poem, etc.

Classroom parties where the parents are included are often a little more work, and they have to be more carefully planned and prepared for in advance, but they are very rewarding for the kids. They also have the added benefit of involving the parents in the school and their child's classroom and introducing them to other parents. As a teacher, classroom with parents parties give you the chance to get to know the parents.

Resources...

Here are a few resources you can use to create an inexpensive party for your classroom.

Classroom Mystery Party - I always thought this would be a really fun party idea to do in the classroom... especially when the kids get a little older and regular classroom parties are kind of lame.

The Holidays Theme section of Kid-Party-Ideas.com contains all kinds of inexpensive activities, decorations, crafts, etc.

Free Kid Crafts has a lot of free craft ideas that you can adapt to decorations, invitations, etc.

Oriental Trading Company is a great place to purchase cheap party supplies in bulk for schools and classrooms.

Kid Crafts Magazine offers a weekly digital magazine with tips for crafting as well as party ideas and crafts.

DIY Gift Package is a set of templates that you can use over and over again to create all kinds of great packages, party favors, decorations, etc. They are easy enough that children can even do them.

Pinata.com is a great place to go if you're considering a piñata for you classroom party.

Kid Party Crafts is an instant access craft book specifically written for group, classroom, and party crafting. It also comes with a bonus ebook on children's party games.