Need non-food ideas for birthday with the class at school

[cruelshoes]

Sean’s birthday is coming up later in the month. It is pretty much expected that when it is your birthday, you have to bring in some kind of treat to share with the class. If it is a treat of food, it cannot be homemade. Last year we took in Mi-del chocolate chip cookies. This went over like a lead balloon, since a few of the more vocal kids pronounced them “gross” and then some of the other kids wouldn’t try them at all.

I want to do something this year that does not involve food at all. I’m thinking some kind of toy or party favor or something, but I can’t think of anything. Sean is in a 3/4/5 grade class, so many of the kids are older than he is. I need something that kids of that age will think is cool. Oh and, by the way, it can’t be too expensive because there are 24 kids. It would be great if this inexpensive-but-cool something was the coolest thing ever, and made all the kids like it better than any old storebought, crappy, gluten filled cupcake.

Any ideas?
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[The Edifying Conscience]

Must think...
Silly Puddy, sheets of stickers, cool pens in colored ink, funky pencils. Check out Oriental Trader for the best prices on those things. Are the kids trading cards these days?

I KNOW, I KNOW!
How about if you and Sean make a pinata or (buy one) and fill it with some school supplies and other filler-like things that you can get at the dollar store.

24 pckgs of candy might be cheaper...and less time consuming though.

[krisiw]

i like the silly putty idea. that or some of that slime gunk

[Linda]

Gel pens? Too bad you don't have a Canadian Tire in Washington State. They have mini mechanical pencils 50 for $4.99 and the kids love them.

Or if you're feeling mean and so is Sean then go for the old, "You thought the stuff I brought in last year was crap so you don't get anything you ungrateful brats! None of you ever brings anything suitable for me!"

Ty's teacher gave out mini boxes of raisins for Halloween. She has 1 celiac, 1 celiac/diabetic, 1 milk/tree nut allergy, and several peanut allergy kids.

I can't think of anything else. The dollar store gets pricey for 24 kids unless it's a 3 for $1 deal.
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Mom of Ty (he's eight) who was diagnosed by bloodwork June 2005, biopsy August 11, 2005, notified on & started GF August 18, 2005

[ostrich]

Sadly, the stuff all the kids would think is "cool" probably costs you more than you want to spend (like an iPhone ). I can imagine them throwing the same comments at little plastic toys.

The pinata idea is pretty good. Do you guys have a local arcade? You might be able to give out free tokens/tickets from there.

TEC - Yes, kids are still trading cards. But the cards they want to trade are pretty expensive (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, etc).
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Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[forinajoy]

I like the pinata idea also, but it might be too much for the teacher (she might not want to deal with the setting up and stuff), you could do gift baggies of pinata type candy or instead of cupcakes, how about a piece of candy that everyone recognizes as normal and is GF (skittles, junior mints, cracker jacks, a candy bar...I am sure there are more, but Ina is also CF and so her limitations are greater and I don't know what the other good GF options are off the top of my head)...it might give the kids an opportunity to see that he can eat some things that they consider "normal"
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Connie, mom to Ina, 13 y/o with CD

[ostrich]

What about something a little healthier, like fruit rolls (Fruit by the Foot, if it's GF)? That way the kids aren't pinging from all the candy.

FWIW, I'd be a little leery about cheap plastic toys. There's been too many recalls lately.
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[cruelshoes]

I looked into Silly Putty, and even on Ebay it was more than I could afford. Good suggestion, though. It would be the same with Pokemon cards, I think, but that is also a good thought. I am going to check out the dollar store this week to see what I can find.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I'm going to see what I can bring together. Hopefully something that will dazzle the ungratefull little brats with it's awesomeness!
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[nancw]

My absolute favorite Dollar Store item:
The Echo Mic

It doesn't get more annoying to parents' ears than this!
_________________
Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, corn, yeast and 99% grain-free

[forinajoy]

Colleen, I am having a total "ditz-day" ...lol... I just realized that you asked for non-food items ....I agree with TEC...oriental trading co. has some really cute/cool things for an inexpensive price esp. if you want multiple items..... www.orientaltrading.com

nanc...I love those echo mics...I'll have to look for them the next time I'm at DG
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Connie, mom to Ina, 13 y/o with CD

[krisiw]

I was just going to suggest the oriental trading company. I subbed for a three year old class today and they each got to choose a teat from the toy box to take home. A lot of the kids chose whizzers (they're at the OTC) and they drove me crazy but the kids loved them. They're like whistles but they make a weird noise and they're not loud. Get those and they'll drive the teacher crazy.

...at least that's what I think they were

[The Edifying Conscience]

[ostrich]

The kids will bring the toys home. You kill two birds with one stone.

Edited to add: If you really want to be mean, you could attach a note to each noisemaker:

"Dear parent, I hope you and your child are enjoying the obnoxious noisemaker. If you don't want to hear it again next year, have a long discussion with your child about teasing other people."
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[cruelshoes]

Thanks for everyone's input. We made a trip to the dollar store this weekend, and picked up the finest they had to offer Sean picked all these things out - Most of them contain sugar. Each kid will receive a colorful bag containing the following:

- Stickers - snakes and lizards, very boyish!
- kazoo - guaranteed to make parents go crazy!
- pixie sticks (the GF tube of sugar that everyone loves)
- Smarties (GF in the US, not Canada)
- Tootsie pop
- Chinese finger trap - good for hours of fun
- A plastic thingie shaped like a piece of fruit filled with fruit flavored sugar.

We did find silly putty there at the last minute, but they didn't have enouugh. We spent some fun time stuffing bags yesterday. Hope he has a great time giving these out in class today.
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

[ostrich]

ROFL! So he's handing out bags filled with sugar (pixie sticks), sugar (Smarties), sugar (Tootsie pops), sugar (fruit sugar), and noisemakers. That'll show the teacher. Let us know how it goes!
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of