Simple Food Ideas for Children's Holiday Celebrations Throughout the Year

When it comes to planning parties for kids, such as in the classroom, it's important to have some focus. Making a theme for a party allows the kids to "get into it" without them passing the parameters you're comfortable with. Having borders allows for creativity and fun while being well planned and in control. A theme doesn't mean balloons and streamers strung from corner to corner, but just allowing the kids to see what the main idea is allows them to participate constructively. Knowing that you thought of them enough to help them celebrate a holiday is really what it's all about to them.

Valentine's Day- We make ice cream sundaes! Have lots of different toppings and vanilla ice cream. The kids will surely declare you their Valentine for coming up with the idea! You can go all out and do just red and pink toppings, but I'd suggest not leaving out the chocolate syrup.

St. Patrick's Day- Go Green! We make green floats with lime sherbet and 7-Up. Add whip cream and green sprinkles, then a green maraschino cherry on top. Kids can also bring in other fun green foods and decorated cookies. Don't forget the straws!

Easter- A fun brunch- We made individual parfaits with vanilla yogurt, granola, and a variety of berries. Then we just add some breakfast foods like muffins and orange juice. Hard-boiled eggs are also a good pick.

Harvest Party for Halloween- We kept this simple, but we're sure to have some seasonal items like sliced apples with caramel dip and also apple cider. We supplement with cupcakes, cookies, cheese and crackers, and fruit. We try to stay away from so much sugar for this party as the kids will undoubtedly be having plenty by trick-or-treating.

Thanksgiving- Have a Colonial Foods party- Have the kids try things people may have been eating during the First Thanksgiving. You don't have to go all out and have a turkey, but letting them sample a variety of foods is always fun. Have corn muffins and butter (you can even have the kids make the butter), make popcorn, apple slices or even baked apples. Though there are many foods that would surprise us if we really researched what the Pilgrims ate or didn't eat, but allowing the kids to use their own common sense for what foods they can think of is always a good way to help them brainstorm together. Adding fruits and vegetables is always a pretty reasonable idea, and may help kids to eat some too!

Christmas- Depending on the year and circumstances, we do one of the following ideas: We have a Christmas Cookie share. Everyone brings in their favorite Holiday Cookies (or other food!) to sample. Or we have a brunch with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and waffles. The kids just bring in the items pre-cooked, except the waffles we put in a toaster from frozen.

Thinking of something that relates to the holiday can be your starting point when coming up with your own ideas. You can make up your own themes, even for your own declared celebrations! A starting point can lead to towards a full theme of fun ideas for the kids, no matter what you're celebrating.