AIBU asking teacher to stop giving sweets?

Sweets in and of themselves wouldn't bother me. Sweets as a reward massively would. Stickers with 'Good job!' or 'Great effort!' are more meaningful and less random. Sweet food shouldn't be a reward, ever.

I would have a word with the school.

Sweets to take home on someone's birthday is fine, but throughout the day between meals is the worst thing for teach.
I'd ask them not to whether it was my first child or 5th, it's not a PFB thing.

That would annoy me and I would have to say something. My son is 3 and sometimes get sweets at nursery. It is only very occasionally but I don't really like it. I try to keep him away from jellies.

To the poster saying you must have very little to worry about. "Eyeroll" I would be concerned about and there is a LOT to worry about in my life right now.

Brushing teeth is not enough to prevent decay.
This type of sweet is the first; sticky, very high in sugar and in the mouth for a long time, which means the pH is altered for long periods A recipe for decay and erosion.

Suggest the change the sweet for stickers

I think the main problem here is intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation.

Worth while learning comes from intrinsic motivation. Not from extrinsic rewards.

I would say "DC's dentist says they are having decay so need to cut right down" , then youre not blaming them

You must absolutely say something, thus is not ok.

Whats the behaviour policy? It usually explains the rewards system, and sweets are highly unlikely to be included. In which case the teacher (lovely as she may be) is not adhering to the school's policy which is an issue in itself.

OP, this is perfect, use this.

Yeh who cares, it's only a child and their teeth. Dentures by age 10 are a great look if you ask me...

This is the perfect response!!! Hope OP sees this…

Welcome to the life of private school! I’ll be surprised if that teacher is the only one giving sweets… it’s just the culture!

I’d make a complaint about it tbh. You shouldn’t have to make your son feel excluded because this teacher shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. It shows extremely poor behaviour management skills. There is also a lot of research about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, and if the teachers only method of motivation is by providing sweets then she’s doing nothing to encourage the intrinsic motivation tha will set children up for life. She might be lovely, but she sounds like a shit teacher, and you have the right to expect better when you’re paying for it.

It's not minor though. This is a thoroughly ignorant comment. Oral health is a massive issue amongst children and incentivising with sweets will not only rot the children's teeth but also contribute to them being addicted to sugar and therefore living an unhealthy lifestyle. No one wants their child to be obese and diabetic with rotten teeth later in life. It starts with habits from childhood.

I would say having the time to be a caring and involved parent absolutely should be a priority, and if you are not, that's your problem.

I’m a little confused by your comment. Why does it matter if it’s child 1 or child 5? Do you care less about tooth decay and the potential for problematic associations with food when you have more children?

I wouldn’t like this at all. That’s constant sugar on those teeth. Once a month a little bag of haribo from school, fine. Every day and multiple times a day…no!

Using food as a reward can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Frequent sugar on the teeth can lead to tooth decay.

The practices from this teacher are unhelpful. Some people may see “just a few sweets” without appreciating the links between the potential for longer term emotional/psychological consequences of using food as a reward. I would highlight this with the school. I would not be happy with this.

I’m not anti sweets as part of a balanced and healthy diet but I’d not be happy with the constant sugar. Bad for teeth and blood sugar levels. I liked the suggestion that you said their dentist said no sugar between meals and stickers instead.

I’d be careful about this. My friend was the same, her child is now a grown up with a bmi of well over 65 as she gorges on sweets and junk food now she’s an adult. She’s too big to work, can hardly move without sweating, is teetering on the edge of needing oxygen as she is breathless even at rest

I think learning to eat everything in moderation is far healthier. Banned food tends to have high value and becomes very desirable. They will get exposed to sweets unless you never let them outside your sight and lets be honest, they are delicious

Not every child not allowed sweets goes on to be a morbidly obese adult but it does happen.

My daughter is a dentist. The state of children’s dentition is horrendous. The biggest reason for children to have a general anaesthetic is for tooth removal. Snacking outside of meal times is bad of dental and general health. Sticky chewy sweets (as are raisins!) are particularly bad - they lodge in teeth fissures.
I would complain (nicely). It sends all the wrong messages to children.
It’s not ‘clutching at pearls’ as some have said. Its a public health disaster.

Maybe, just maybe put on your big girl pants and talk to the teacher.

I really wouldn't if I were you. You will be disturbing a situation that is happy and in balance. Just make sure you clean his teeth when he gets back from school.

I don't think the odd jelly tot is out of order - mine were potty trained on them! Worked like a dream!

As long as you know what is happening and can be extra vigilant about teeth cleaning after school maybe as well as morning and night then I would not be too worried. Life is all about compromises. Your son is happy at school, the teacher is lovely ..... all good.

Have a nice saucer of milk love.
For some strange reason most parents actually care about their lids dental welfare - OP is hardly over reacting.

Mine are at secondary and we attended a sports event last week and there was a MASSIVE Haribo delivery in reception. Dc tells me senior staff come round giving them out for attendance/uniform/other positives once per half-term. Seems mad to me though obviously by this age they can buy their own sweets anyway when they want so it's not about their teeth.