So your kid got to be the center of attention and and out goodies in the classroom. Shouldn't kids whose birthdays are in the summer also be allowed to "celebrate" in the classroom too? Even if it just means handing out loot bags?
My guess is that it probably depends on the child. My DD's birthday is in August and the classroom birthday parties started in Kindergarten the same month school started (September). And yes, she wanted to celebrate with her friends at school the same as all the other kids celebrated. It's cool to be the center of attention when you're 5 or 6 and make other kids excited about your cake and loot bags. Even if you are Jack the Ripper . Her teacher suggested the half-birthday idea and we went with it through Elementary school. She's 13 and going into High School and she still mentions her half birthday in February but we don't "celebrate" it anymore.
One thing she has missed every year (until this upcoming August) is what's called a "birthday swim" where the birthday kid swims down a lane and the other kids line up on either side with kick boards to splash water on them. Her birthday is after summer swim season and before fall swim season. This year it will fall in HS swim practice. I hope her coach does the birthday swim thing for her swimmers .
Unfair?? Lol. I wouldnt call it "unfair". If your bday is in July, tough luck kid. You cant change your bday. I think its silly to celebrate months ahead just because the kid is jealous that most kids have bdays that fall in the school year.
marcyinPA said:Whoa, that was rough! I have a summer birthday- and never had the chance to hold the American flag for the Pledge of Allegiance like the other birthday kids did in school. Jealous- maybe. But why couldn't I get a turn? They couldn't work it out somehow? Seriously. I am going to be 45 years old and I still remember this!
I honestly don't see how celebrating a 1/2 birthday puts a cramp in anyone else' life. You need to lighten up a little!
Let me ask you Marcy, why should they have? You seem to have turned out great, no underlying emotional issues. Why do we have to make every thing for every body?
Let me ask you Marcy, why should they have? You seem to have turned out great, no underlying emotional issues. Why do we have to make every thing for every body? Are kids so emotionally fragile that they run home crying because they don't hold a flag?
I suppose we can tell a 7-year old "Too bad, so sad" your team sucks or your birthday is in July so "man up" because life is not fair. IMO there is time enough to learn those hard life lessons when kids are older.
I think there's a world of difference between rewarding an accomplishment like a championship season and celebrating something that just happens like a birthday.
I'm not a big fan of participation trophies - I don't think there's anything wrong with recognizing the kids who worked hard and excelled, and I like that most of our sports leagues have participation medals/ribbons for every child but only give trophies to the top competitors. That's a good middle ground, IMO; everyone's effort is recognized and the kids get a little keepsake to tape to their wall, but the achievement of the champion teams isn't diminished by treating it as equal teams that didn't perform as well.
But when it comes to birthdays, there's no extra effort or accomplishment being celebrated. No one worked harder to have a birthday during the school year, or displayed particular talent by not being born around Christmas. Everyone's birthday is equal, just an accident of nature, and as such I see absolutely nothing wrong with making sure every student gets to experience the same special day.
Don't misunderstand WD, I don't think any thing is wrong if some one else has one either. But I do see OVERALL a general slide into what I call "snow flake ville".
Like I said, in my township school district we now have 4 graduations between kindergarten and high school. And while every one swears celebrations are small and "just" cupcakes, in my township parents most definitely are hiring ponies (big business), moon bounces and clowns to make each and every celebration spectacular.
Around here, celebrations really are small. That's probably why I don't think they diminish the "specialness" of more major milestones or events. And I've never encountered a kid who celebrated both a birthday and half-birthday - the half-birthday thing is instead of, not in addition to.
I'm not a big fan of the graduation thing, though! My 4yo just "graduated" from preschool. She'll also "graduate" next year from kindergarten even though she'll just be moving on with all the same kids to 1st grade in the same school. Then she'll graduate from 8th grade. If she were attending public school, she'd also have a 5th grade graduation but since our private school is pre-K to 8 they skip that one. I can understand the 8th grade graduation - it is their graduation from that particular school and the last time they're together with that group of classmates because kids from our school split between the Catholic HS and the three public districts our elem draws from. But I don't get why an end of the year celebration for a 4 or 5 year old who is simply moving up to the next grade with his/her peers needs to be marked by a "graduation ceremony" complete with cardboard graduate hats and yarn tassels.
I am 43 and I still remember the few birthday parties my mom had for me. They were modest (a few friends, cake and hot dogs) and I loved them. It brings back great memories. I want those memories for my kids too. Up until now, it has not been an issue (my first 2 have easy bday dates for parties) but my last does not. He is September 1st, here, school starts the day after Labour Day. So no class stuff for him. I still remember my first son coming home from JK with his birthday crown. This thread has made me really think that you cant win. If you have a half birthday then you are not letting your kid "suck it up". We don't really have half birthdays around here so this idea is interesting to me. He is still young so no parties for him yet but my 12 year old had a big skating party for her's that was fabulous (she invited her whole class). Not sure how I am going to go with his, but what I do for one, I like to do for all of them.