Avon Lake School Kids Told To Keep Their Birthday Treats At Home

AVON LAKE, OH — The days of kids bringing birthday treats to share with their classmates is getting a reboot in the Avon Lake School system. Parents are asked not to have their kids bring cookies, cupcakes and candy to classroom treats on their birthdays.

Instead, kids should bring “non-food items,” such as pencils, tattoos or silly bands, to celebrate their special day. School officials say the change is about the safety of the children, especially those with food-related allergies with food that contain peanuts, eggs, gluten and other potentially harmful ingredients.

The elementary schools “have found that we need to make a change in our birthday treat policy,” write the district’s four elementary school principals in a letter that went home to parents earlier this month.
“We still want to celebrate this important day in your child's life; we just want to do it in a manner that all children can participate in.”

The district will continue to allow treats for holiday parties at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the letter notes.

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