Healthy Class Party Idea: Grape Sculptures!
I’ve planned a lot of elementary school class parties, and my mantra is always: EASY EASY EASY. I don’t think kids need a lot of fanciness to have a good time. They’re just excited about having a PARTY in their CLASSROOM! Young kids are tickled pink with just about anything out of the ordinary at school, so why stay up all night creating elaborate food, craft projects, and decorations?
Last year I organized my son’s first grade Valentine’s Day party, and the teacher suggested the kids make Grape Sculptures out of toothpicks and red grapes (in keeping with the holiday’s colors).
To be honest, I wasn’t sure this activity would be much fun for the kids. But clearly I know nothing. Because the Grape Sculptures were the absolute hit of the party!
I love that this activity meets my EASY EASY EASY requirement for class parties. And I love that it’s also healthy: Kids can munch on the grapes while they’re building and eat the finished product.
- For more class party ideas including active games and healthy food, read 3 Healthy Moves For A Happy Valentine’s Day.
- Frosting heart-shaped cookies? Here’s a recipe for Naturally Colored Pink Frosting.
Do YOU have any Valentine’s Day class party ideas? I’d love to hear about them!
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I would be concerned about my daughter getting food poisoning with this party favor. Puncturing the skin of all those grapes with toothpicks that have been passed around and laid on desktops and who knows where. Are the children instructed to at least wash their hands with soap and hot water before handling the toothpicks and grapes and everything? I’m sorry but I would have to forbid my child to eat any of these sculptures. It is unsanitary.
There are many ways you could limit worries about germs, such as children getting their own bags of grapes and toothpicks. But sounds like this is not the right activity for you.
Such a cute idea! What a great and healthy way for kids to be involved in school and learning!
Thanks Rachel!
I agree this is cute but is it sending our kids the right message, that food is to be played with, it is a toy? Sometimes I think we elevate food far above its natural place in the grand scheme of things. Eat to live has been the mantra for hundreds of generations and now we have kids being taught to pick at their food, play with it, photograph it and publish it to the internet, fuss over it and criticize, even ostracize others over it. I wonder if we are doing our children a disservice by rearing them in such an extreme environment in regard to how we admire food. A generation ago our obsession with body shape caused us to rear anorexics. Now we are seeing an alarming surge in orthorexics. What will it be for the next generation, and how will that reflect upon what we are teaching these kids today?
I hear you on your overall concerns, but this is just a fun activity with grapes and toothpicks. I don’t think it’s going to negatively impact a child’s view of food.
Doris you are way overthinking this:) It’s us parent against the marketing genius world who are trying to sell our kids dinosaur chicken chunks and Froot Loops and make them thinks it’s real food. Hands on fun experiences with real food is thumbs up for me and my three year old! Thanks Sally.
And kdf…..RELAX!
“Dinosaur chicken chunks”. LOL. Thanks Melissa! 🙂
We just did this yesterday as my son’s afternoon snack and he had a blast. Although he’s four and thus doesn’t really know what a blog is, he now knows about yours and reminds me to check it, because I told him that the ideas for mango hedgehogs, kiwi popsicles, and now this, all came from “that lady on the computer.” So thanks, from both me and him!
Anna–you just made my day. Thank you for letting me know that. Warms my heart!!