Siblings at class parties?

[Admin Jorelanu]

Ok, I realize that most parents have multiple children and when the oldest child heads off to school, in order to attend the parties they can "need" to bring the younger siblings. My lil one attended several class parties for my older child, she didn't participate though, she was just there. My older kiddo generally shared whatever goodies she was eating and any "unwanted" crafts were dumped on my lil one who being 2-3 at the time thought they were fabulous! :D

I am leading the parties for my older child this year, the last party, I had a mom who brought several young siblings who she dumped in the middle of the class (who was doing crafts) started feeding them the party food for the class despite the fact that the CLASS was not eating yet and then fully expected me to include them in all games/prizes.

I can only imagine I am going to have this situation again come this party. Tonight I am creating the graham cracker houses the kids will decorate. DH asked how many I was making, I said I wasn't sure, I need enough for the class, an extra for breakage and then what do I do about siblings? DH told me that it's ridiculous for me to stay up all night (they were supposed to be made on Tues. but the cracker donation person flaked on me) and that I should make enough for the class plus 1 extra for breakage and be done with it.

Should siblings be included? I do have enough crackers I can piece together a few houses, it'll just take me longer since I am down to cracker squares instead of sheets.

Jore

[Admin Randy's Wife]

Well, call me a Grinch! ;) But I do not think siblings should be included....ONLY the kiddos in the class is my opinion! I always volunteer and before my youngest was in school, she did attend the parties with me....but she got a snack/drink and was happy! I never once thought or was offended if she did not get to participate in the class activity.

[Michiana Mom]

I'm surprised, because I've never seen younger sibs brought to anything during school hours at DS's school. On the contrary, when there are parties going on I hear the other parents talking about where they sent their little ones for the afternoon.

[My2Blessings]

DD's school has a strict no sibling policy. If I want to help at the parties, then I have to find a babysitter. I can understand why after reading that! Wow! I hope it works out okay tomorrow.

[Admin shilton]

I say if siblings come, they need to bring their own snacks and a coloring book or something to keep them busy.

[MomMeg]

We had a similar situation this week. DS6's class was doing the graham cracker houses too. He kept telling me "Sydney gets to do one too". I told him no that she will help him and watch. He proceeds to tell me that the teacher made 7 extra!!!! I still told him that really it was his party and if she got to do one that would be nice but we should not expect that. Last year, they did the same thing in his kindy class and she did not get her own to do. She did get to make one after all but I did not expect it. I really thought it was a little much. One family had two siblings and they both got to do one. I think it was a little much. It is the same thing if you have to take a younger sibling to a birthday party to me.

This school has bizarre rules about siblings. I have been told that she can't come to lunch (this by the office). But, the teachers are fine with them coming to things in the classroom. I would push them on being inconsistent but I am afraid they would say no siblings at all and if I can't bring her it might mean I can't come myself sometimes. She goes to preschool 3 mornings a week so I mostly try to plan being in the class then, without her. She came twice when I read to the class at the beginning of the year. I think it was good for her to see "big school" because she will be there in two years herself.

That being said, I have one younger child. I think if I had two I would be making arrangements!!

Megan

[QMomof3]

I have seen both done. I liked when I could bring my younger ones, b/c it allowed me to attend more and they loved going to the "big kid" classroom. I have had teachers that have included them in activities and those that have not. I have never expected that they be included and go into everything anticipating that they will not be participating (bring my own snacks and a book or two to keep them occupied.)

I think however you decide to do it is fine. I think if anyone complains, I would just tell them I'm sorry you feel that way. It took a lot of time for me to prepare this for the class. If you would like next time, I can let you know ahead of time what we will be doing, so you can prepare the same thing for the little ones.

That being said, DD6 is making the gingerbread houses tomorrow in class. Since the parents are there to help, they are considered volunteers. The school has a no sibling policy while you are volunteering.

[arubagirl]

I dont think they should come.... just like at birthday parties unless they are invited.

here only the class moms attend the parties not the rest of the parents..No siblings allowed.

[raisinggracie]

I do not believe siblings should be allowed in class room parties and I would only provide enough food/crafts for the class.

[fula97]

Well, call me a Grinch! ;) But I do not think siblings should be included....ONLY the kiddos in the class is my opinion! .
What she said :)

[Alli~cat]

I've never taken my youngest ones with me. The only exception was DS's last day of school in kindergarten, which was really nothing special, I just wanted to be there and I brought DD with me. I'm going to DD's class party tomorrow and am leaving the baby at the sitter's.

I guess if the parent can't find other arrangements then it would be okay to bring them as long as they were kept out of the way and not doing the class activity and eating the class food. And I would find a nice way (like QMomof3's comment) of telling them that.

[nolagirl]

I wouldn't make any extras for siblings. I am a grinch too I guess. If she has to bring the other kids she should be doing her absolute best to keep them out of the way so that they don't disrupt the party. It would be really hard for me not to say something to a mother like that. I'd probably make her mad and get myself into trouble!

[COLORADO/MOM/3]

I too wouldn't make extras for the siblings. There have been things that I have had to bring DS to for me to be able to go to DD's class and I have always just brought my own special treats and things to keep him occupied.

Besides that, there is no way for you to know how many extra kids there are!

[Admin Jorelanu]

I have 4 extra houses... I had a few more crackers than I thought, so I made 3 and then got an e-mail that one child is not coming to school tommorow so that gives me 4.

The classroom has an extra small table, so as long as we don't have more than 4 extra kids, I am going to put them over in the corner and be firm that I need them to stay over there and out of the middle of the party.

Jore

[MickiB]

LOL Is the entire nation doing graham cracker houses? We wound up missing ours because the kids were up sick at 1:00 a.m. this morning so I kept them all home. Starting Christmas vacation early, I guess.

[Shea]

I always had to take younger siblings with me...but at our kids' school, everybody is pretty nice about siblings coming. I always told me kids "This is your SISTER'S Party. You will not be throwing a fit if you don't get something or if you don't get to participate." My kids might have ended up with a cupcake or something IF there were extras, but I NEVER expected it...and NO WAY would I even WANT someone to stay up late making extras of anything for younger sibs.

[WorkinMyQs]

Wow that's just wild about that mom at the last party digging into the food before the class even did? lol Did anyone say anything to her? I think I'd be floored by that.

Jore, I bet that teacher just loves it when you volunteer!

[agatha]

I've only taken a baby to a sibling's party. And I only went because I was the room mom and HAD to be there. I'm a grinch in this case too. It is the one child's party and that should be the emphasis.

[Admin Jorelanu]

Well we ended up with 5 siblings, one of which was MINE!

The Kgarten teacher announced that all the kids were welcome to go home at 11am. So my kid threw a giant fit and certainly wasn't going to stay. DH was apparently talking on all 3 phones at the same time, so I had nobody to come get her, so I had to bring her.

It wasn't bad, I sat the 3 older siblings at a table with a couple of sheets of wrapping paper and they collectively cut out penguins, snowflakes and christmas tree and glued them to a scrap of cardboard while the class did games/projects/crafts. Then we gave each kid a house and let them go for it, I was surprised, the older kids collected extra chairs and set up the lil ones next to them and they helped them out as needed.

Oh and MY lil one has announced she wants to go to ALL the 2nd grade parties because at one point 4 kids were fighting over who got the priveledge of having her sit next to them! /sigh

Jore

[Fourboys]

I was surprised, the older kids collected extra chairs and set up the lil ones next to them and they helped them out as needed.


this is kind of how the kids do it at my sons schools. in kindy there's only 6 kids and im there so often volunteering or substituting that my youngest thinks he is part of the class! Lol the kids call him the class brother.

but even in my 2nd graders class when we show up they make room, grab him a chair and sit him right next to his brother. if he needs something one of the girls jumps up. when Im teaching food literacy it is too cute to see my 3 yo waving his hand to answer right along with the 7/8 yos. (And he usually has a good answer!)

now my 4th grader teacher asked for no siblings- so he's never gone there.

I dont mind siblings at class parties if they are either quietly doing something else or doing what the class is doing. but I dont expect others to prepare for him. and if there is food he waits just like everyone else.

that said- i dont take him to my weekly volunteering (except kindy) and love the time without him to help the other kids. but this is also the first year I COULD volunteer weekly - I never was going to drag TWO extra kids along! And with the youngest in school it gives me time to volunteer one day a week.