Year-end class parties have long been a tradition in schools, marking the close of the academic year with a small celebration among students.
However, what is usually a joyful occasion has recently sparked debate, after some parents were criticised for bringing food deemed unhealthy or unsuitable for such events.
Only once a year
The criticism did not sit well with one woman, who took to social media to voice her view that the issue was being unnecessarily magnified.
She argued that year-end class parties are held only once a year and for a very short period, making the backlash over food choices excessive.
According to her, banning snacks or “junk food” from these gatherings should not become a point of contention that creates tension among parents.
Can the issue about not bringing junk food to year-end parties just stop? It’s only for one day, not every day,” she wrote in a Threads post. “The kids only eat for a few minutes. Why make such a big fuss over it?”
She added that not all parents can afford to prepare large quantities of fruits or healthier food options, as suggested by some critics.
Not every parent can afford to buy lots of fruits or prepare only healthy food. It’s a one-day issue, but people panic as if the child eats that kind of food every day,” she said.
Netizens’ comment
Her post quickly gained traction, with many netizens agreeing that year-end parties should be a time for children to celebrate their achievements and enjoy moments with their classmates, rather than a source of stress for parents.
“I still have the junk food from my child’s year-end school party kept at home. The kids brought home one plastic bag because at school parents weren’t allowed to let them eat it. I have no issue with that. We bring it home, keep it, and eat it together another time.”
“That’s true. Even when I was young, my parents didn’t really give us junk food at home, not even instant noodles. So when there was a school party, we’d just eat it then because it wasn’t an everyday thing. But sometimes parents forget that kids can still buy it themselves without us knowing.”
“The main issue isn’t about not bringing junk food. Please educate your child not to eat junk food. If they’re properly taught, they won’t take or eat junk food even if other people give it to them.”
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