Here are some changes local educators, schools and child-care centers are making for more healthful celebrations:

Jose Marti Child Development Center, Seattle: The bilingual child-care program, based at El Centro de la Raza, respects the piñata, a Latino birthday tradition. But staff members fill it with small toys and novelties instead of candy. "We change it, but we know the children will still be happy," said Maria Rico, after-school program coordinator.

The center used its monthly parent meetings to help sell parents on its nonfood policy. "The whole environment changes," Rico said. "They don't have to be thinking about food all the time."

Laurelhurst Elementary School, Seattle: All the second- and third-grade classes ask parents not to bring food for birthdays. Second-grade teacher Ellen Kyono and her teaching partner share a double classroom and banned birthday sweets about seven years ago. "In addition to our reluctance to have so much sugar, we could not imagine having treats 58 times during the year because of the disruption to the regular schedule," Kyono explained in an e-mail. Instead, students write the birthday child a letter noting their special talents and traits.

Elise Hart's oldest son, now a fifth-grader, still has his second-grade letter. "I really think it means more than cupcakes, which come and go," she said.

Phinney Ridge Kids! Seattle: The before- and after-school program, sponsored by the Phinney Neighborhood Association, asks parents not to send in any birthday treats. Instead, children get to choose a birthday book from a collection of donated new books. For Halloween, the program stages a carnival with games and toy prizes. "We focus on fun things to do instead of making food the centerpoint," said director Ericka Newman.

Wallingford Child Care Center, Seattle: For Valentine's Day, the school asks parents to focus on cards, not candy. Its Halloween celebration is all about pumpkins: pumpkin soup, bread, muffins. "Kids are so easily amused," said director Cheryll Artz. "They don't need a whole lot. They're happy with raisins and Craisins."

Sherwood Forest Elementary School, Bellevue: The PTA formed a new Health & Wellness committee this year and will use part of its budget to purchase nonfood items, such as erasers, pencils and stickers, for teachers to give out as rewards instead of gum or candy. It also replaced candy and pop sales at PTA family nights with granola bars, organic yogurt tubes, all-fruit leathers and bottled water.