drinking water/juice at school

[hockeymum]

DD has just started reception. She is in there for 6 1/2 hours. they have milk at morning break but that is all. I send her in with a bottle of juice which she has for lunch only (not for the whole lunch break, they have their sandwiches when they can have their drink for less than 1/2 hour and then go out and play for a whole hour when they dont have their drink). She comes home with her lunch virtually untouched as she says she doesnt have enough time to eat and her drink is less than half gone.

Shouldnt they be drinking more than that in a day? I'm surprised they aren't allowed access to other drinks during the day.

Is this normal?

[WigWamBam]

Dd has a break in the morning where they have either milk or their own juice or water, a break in the afternoon where they can have their own drink, plus there's unlimited water at lunchtime. They also have a cup of water twice a day when they do Brain Gym.

I would be concerned if dd wasn't being given the opportunity to have a drink or eat her lunch, but I would say that you should probably speak to the teacher first as your dd may have misunderstood. If it turns out that they really aren't allowed to drink during the day then I'd raise it with the head teacher.

[BettySpaghetti]

At DD's school they take in bottles of water to keep on their tables (put them in a small basket in the centre of each shared table of 5-6) . They also take a drink for lunchtime but that can be juice etc whereas the desk ones can only be water.

[hulababy]

DD started reception last week too. She can take in a water bottle. This is kept in the classroom, although I dn't actually know if they cn drink in the classroom - DD doesn't say! However they have two break times (morning adnd afternoon) when she can drink it. Milk is also offered at morning break, but DD doesn't like it. And they get water with the meal, and she can have her water botttle during lunch break too.

[essbee]

Message withdrawn

[scotlou]

Our school provides water bottles which are kept in the classroom and filled daily - could your school be doing the same?

[LunarSea]

Ours has a water cooler in the classroom, and they each get their own cups and can help themselves whenever they like.

[Medulla]

Yes definately an issue hockeymum. There's loads of research about hydration and concentration, do you know any pta members

[BudaBabe]

Ours are supposed to bring in a water bottle every day and the teacher really encourages them. If she has to re-fill the bottles during the day they get a sticker.

[trinityshiftingherleatheryarse]

dd1 has a water bottle that she can have on her table all day

[hockeymum]

thanks for the info. Yes, i suppose the school could be providing them with water bottles themselves, I'll check that out. It's impossible to get any info out of dd at the end of the day as she is so tired she doesnt want to talk about it! I'll ask the other mums.

[HuwEdwards]

Same as Betty.

[beckybrastraps]

Ds's school doen't allow water bottles, but they do have water available in every classroom, water fountains in the playground, and water at break and lunch. Check with the teacher about what's available. There may be more than you think.

[Bozza]

Every child at our school (DS is now in year one) has to take in a bottle from home filled with water. They are kept in a tray in the classroom and they have unlimited access to them as far as I understand. Other than that it is the milk and lunchtime drink as you describe.

[Seashells]

This used to annoy me when ds started school, but they've since got water dispensers in classrooms and in his last school, all the kids took named bottles of water into class. ds used to come home with terrible headaches before they allowed them drinks throughout the day, lack of fluids must really affect their concentration in class too.

[portonovo]

Our school has water fountains but children are also allowed to bring water bottles into the classroom as long as they have sports-type lids.

[Sugarmagnolia]

DD's school gives every child a sport's bottle with their name written on it and they are encouraged to drink from it throughout the day and refill it as necessary. Other drinks are only allowed at break and lunch time.

on the flip side however, DD told me yesterday that her teacher wouldn't let her go to the toilet until break time! So they drink lots but aren't allowed to go to the loo. I may have misunderstood though - it's possible it was only a couple of minutes until break and on this occassion the teacher asked if she could just wait a few minutes. I do plan to clarify this with her teacher later this week.

[redshoes]

My dds primary school have bottles of water on their tables too - but the PTA get the local water authority to supply them, then each child is given one with their name on. They are encouraged to drink lots. I'd be concerned too.