Do your children have to ask for a drink?

[ohoneohtwo]

Just musing really. I was having a bath earlier and the neighbours were in their garden. One of the kids asked if she could have a drink. She is 11.

I always provided mine with a drink until they were able to get their own independently, I'm guessing roughly 5 yo. They don't have to ask though. It never crossed don't mind to restrict drinks.

I always had to ask. DS has a fridge in his room. I've gone the opposite way.

I just keep their water bottles full. They might ask for squash occasionally.

They don't have to ask, they can get their own, they still ask. I think they like it when I do things for them.

We only have water so the don't need to ask. However "can I have a drink please?" in this house translates as "I'm thirsty, but I don't want to stop what I'm doing so please will you go and get me a drink!"

@Bluntness100

They have to ask for squash, because I don’t want them drinking sugary drinks

Why don’t you buy sugar free?

Sugar free squash is grim

Water, no, milk, only if they’ve already guzzled some today so I can check there’s enough left, squash or juice etc yes because I don’t let them have loads a day. They’re usually quite canny about spacing their requests so I do let them have some! They can make their own, though. They’re 6 and 8. I suspect the older one will help himself to extra milk or juice on the sly but that’s a time-honoured tradition so I don’t mind too much as he doesn’t leave cartons and bottles empty for nobody else to have some.

DS2 (13) still asks occasionally. No idea why.

Mine asks because she wants me to go and get it for her

3 year old asks, but older siblings help themselves to water. We don't have squash or juice in the house unless it's a special occasion and then they're expected to tell us they're drinking it, not necessarily ask though. They have to ask for milk after too many dropped bottles!

Water they can have when ever, anything I want them to ask as they are limited with juice and fizz due to health reasons and I don,t always have copious amounts of milk. Also my son can get silly when making squash.

No. Mine are 4 and nearly 2 and they both have non spill cups of water kicking around all day wherever they play.

If they want milk/juice then they ask but I think free access to water is important, especially when it's hot.

No, they have water bottles, which the fill up throughout the day. Have done since they were only enough to hold their own cups.

Had water bottles I mean, they used to need help to refill obvs but they never had to ask.

Mine CAN but they love to ask me to do it for them! They would probably say ‘can I have a drink’

Mine have been helping themselves to water from the fridge since they could get it themselves. We don't have juice or squash etc and they don't drink milk as they are older now. I think if we did have juice etc I would expect them to ask, just like they ask if they want a snack/treat outside of mealtimes.

My kids always ask for drink, not because they have to ask permission but because they like to think they have live in staff

They help themselves to water (4 & 6) I have a step and they can reach the tap. If they want something different, which isn’t that often, they do ask me, purely because even with the step they can’t reach in the fridge. My milk bottles are too big for them to pour yet.

My younger children always ask for a drink even though they often make their own. My older 2 help themselves to water but will ask Permission for milk/juice/fizzy.
I’ve never said no they can’t have a drink So not entirely sure why they ask - probably out of habit

Mine don’t have to ask for water, but squash or the occasional fizzy they do need to ask for as we limit those. But they’re the ones who actually get the drinks for themselves, either way. They are 13 and 10.

She was definitely asking if she could have a drink rather then if her parents would get her one.

'Can I go and get a drink?' Or very similar.

@dontdressme

They have to ask for squash, because I don’t want them drinking sugary drinks all day every day (which they would, they’re 7 and 9).

Water and milk, they’re free to help themselves.

Exactly this

Thanks everyone. A good mix of answers there.

11 and 9yo can help themselves to water/milk but they know to ask whether they can have a fizzy drink or juice. 9yo would happily drink a pint of OJ if we didn't restrict it.

I think it can become a habit to ask aswell.
Yesterday my ds asked me if he could have a snack.... while he was already eating a snack

I’m agree with others, sugary/fizzy drinks (which I assume she was asking for) are in the same category as sugary snacks in our house. You want one, you ask!
Water and milk you can help yourself.