Teacher Says No Birthday Cupcakes in School, Cites Messiness in Viral Video

An Illinois teacher has gained widespread attention after sharing a TikTok video explaining her aversion to students bringing cupcakes to class as birthday treats. Ann Brackemyer, a kindergarten teacher known by her TikTok handle “kbcrayons,” posted the video on August 2. In it, she mentions that while she loves celebrating birthdays in her classroom, cupcakes are less than ideal.

“I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but please don’t bring cupcakes,” Brackemyer appealed to parents in her video, which has since garnered over 2.4 million views. “These make a ginormous mess and the kids honestly don’t eat them that great.”

According to Brackemyer, once the frosting from cupcakes gets all over, the children “don’t know what to do.” She explained further that the cupcakes are “just too much for them and it’s too messy.”

As alternatives to cupcakes, Brackemyer suggested options such as frosted sugar cookies with sprinkles, small donuts, ice cream cups topped with sprinkles, and Little Debbie snacks. She emphasized that these alternatives are simple, easy to manage, and much less messy, while still being enjoyable for the kids.

“These are just simple and easy snacks that you can bring for your child in their classroom that are not as messy and also the kids love,” she noted. Among the suggested alternatives, Brackemyer mentioned that Cosmic Brownies, which can cost between $2 to $5 a box, are “a favorite in her room.”

However, not everyone agrees with Brackemyer’s stance. Other TikTok users, including some who identified themselves as parents or teachers, shared differing opinions in the comments. One user commented, “As a teacher, send whatever your kid wants.”

Another user mentioned that her kids’ school no longer permits food as birthday treats, suggesting instead that parents bring trinket bags if they wish to contribute anything. “I bring in whatever my child chooses! It’s their birthday, they get to pick,” another commenter wrote.

A separate commenter, who also claimed to be a teacher, stated, “As a teacher, the kids don’t care they’ll eat anything nor do we care we’ll clean them up keep the cupcakes coming cuz I want one.”

Source: USA TODAY