School water policy help

[88Pandora88]

Vague title, wasn't sure how to word it.
Anyway my DD is 8 and her school has a water only policy except for with packed lunches. My dd is a nightmare with food and drinks. She eats limited foods, which we are working on and has increased slightly, but liquid wise, she will only drink vimto, pure orange or occasionally strawberry milkshake (but only certain brands)
Schools said today to her she's not to bring vimto, only water (during class times) Her juice bottle isnt one you can really see through so not sure how they've found out.
If we send water, the bottle will come home just as full as its sent in, she will not drink it. Trust me, we've tried many times.
Weight wise, she's small for her age in height but just within the healthy range for weight to height on bmi. This is something else I'm monitoring to make sure she's always gaining etc.

Anyway, she's told us her teacher said only water in future, yet she's told us teachers are allowed juice, some have orange, vimto, blackcurrant etc. Not sure that's setting the best example really.
Any suggestions on how to get around all of this and keep her on juice, don't want her going all day without drinking (she will get some juice at dinner though)
Also she's been getting headaches recently which touch wood we've got on top of, so don't want her getting dehydrated and headaches returning either 🙈

I should add we've tried flavoured water etc.
Thanks!

I agree with this, her teeth will be absolutely horrific if all she drinks is sweet stuff and she does it continuously throughout the day. Don’t fight the school on the water only principle, work with your child to get her to understand what is best for her body instead. Not many kids would choose water over sugary drinks, but most aren’t given the choice as they are guided by their parents and school (SEN children being an exception ).

Teachers and pupils do not have parity, so that element should be discounted (unless you fancy getting her to lesson plan for 2 hours a night before settling down to 3 hours marking before bed to give her the full experience? 😬)

Water only is a common school policy and I get your frustration - water is REALLY boring and completely unnecessary for hydration (my bowel consultant just says ‘any uncarbonated soft or hot drink’ and 8 glasses is a myth).
However, if it’s policy then it’s not an unreasonable one, so you may have to just get her used to it.

That's bonkers that people in the UK entertain the idea of someone "not drinking water". Water is what you drink most of the time. That's like having a shower, or sleeping every day.
No wonder diabetes rates are soaring, when people normalise absurd behaviours like that.

Only you know your child! You’re clearly very switched on to her personality and if you can see parts of yourself in her, will know her triggers. And honestly, there but for the grace of god go I - nobody knows what it’s like until they’ve been in this situation. I fully agree in not pushing food and not saying plates just be emptied - I suppose I just don’t provide some of the options that I think may ultimately lead to other unhealthy eating habits. I don’t think any child really needs Vimto… and I can see why teachers don’t want it in their classrooms.

Good luck OP!

A pp has beaten me to it, but this seems a particularly British problem. I have never heard of a child or adult in Spain saying they don’t drink water, including those in areas where tap water tastes bad and they therefore have to buy and transport massive 5 to 12 liter containers to drink at home.

Try flavoured still water diluted a bit to ensure its weakened a little.

I know at DSD the TA or teacher do fill the kids bottles up if they leave them empty on their desks so could be how they've sussed. My DSD is 8 too and since she started at reception I've always done flavoured water 3/4 of the bottle and topped with normal water otherwise she doesn't drink then complains it hurts to go bathroom!

Just don't put it in a clear bottle and pick one with a thin neck, short of tasting it how will they know? Our children wouldn't drink water until recently (thry are 6 and 4), they only had cordial. Water was untouched if i sent it to school (school rule is water only). The reason they did start accepting water was because we went abroad for 3 weeks and it was 40 degrees, they didn't sell their very specific Robinsons cordial but it was so hot they were guzzling water. They came home and they kind of forgot about cordial and have drank water for over 2 months now. So either hide the drink or go on holiday for 3 weeks somewhere roasting so they realise water is fine.

My kids don't like to drink water much either but they are only allowed water in school, most days it comes back undrunk.

None of them have died yet!

Agree- also the 'I don't think I've ever seen my father drink water in his life' made me lol. If you haven't heard the Claudia Winkleman episode of the 'Off-menu' podcast (James Acaster silliness) you should: she's hilariously outraged at what she sees as the obsession with water.

Robinson’s summer fruit squash in a pink see-through bottle has yet to be detected by our school!

No one has died of dehydration whilst drinking with breakfast, lunch and dinner. If she won't have water then that's fine. She just doesn't drink between meals. I can guarantee that if she was dehydrated she would drink it. She isn't and therefore prefers squash which is fine, just not allowed in class. What the teachers drink is beside the point. Presumably they don't wear uniform or have to do their spellings either!

If I were you I'd get your daughter to drink water asap- all that juice will not be good for her teeth.

In the meanwhile- why not try an airup bottle? My son got one as they are the 'thing' atm- it's great!

Possibly off topic, but have you seen any other signs that she might have additional needs? ARFID is a really common co-morbidity in autism.

I think all the PP saying to just let her get thirsty and she'll drink water are well meaning, but don't really get food aversion. I've also stuffed from ARFID, and I still really struggle with drinking water in the UK (it tastes very different from water where I grew up). I don't notice that I'm thirsty either, until I'm very, very dehydrated. Lack on interoception is also common with ASD.

I drink sugar free squash or herbal tea instead of water.

One of my DC also has ASD and ARFID, and his school let him have dilute squash at lunch time so that he didn't go all day without a drink.

Talk to the school and see how they can support you and your DD. And ask if they have any other concerns about her development and behaviours at school.

Is be worried too. Sugar free, flavoured water?

I'm an adult and really struggle with water. I also suffer from bad heads. As a child I would not have drank a bottle of water for anyone, i can drink it now when thirsty but I hand on heart know that when I was a kid id rather have been parched. I have no idea why.

Teachers should drink water if they insist on water. Yes rules are different for kids but it's a drink... not three lines of cocaine

I would send her in with water. If she experiences real thirst she’ll drink it or if not she’ll not die if she goes a few hours without drinking.

Just because teachers are allowed to do something it doesn’t mean pupils should automatically be allowed. They aren’t the same. Although I wouldn’t object to a uniform, it would save my clothes.

Have you tried cucumber or lime water made at home? Adds a bit of flavour to the water, but not as bad as squash and other sugary drinks.

I think blanket rules like this are silly. School should be for learning and most people learn when they're comfortable, not when they're thirsty and distracted.

Funny you mention about you not drinking until really thirsty, I never really thought about that until you said it, but that's exactly what I do! I've spoken to teachers a few times regarding her, academically she's doing great, she's youngest in class but achieving at/above her expected levels, her English is amazing and she's always getting work sent to the headteacher as it's great.
Behaviour wise, at school she's grest, at home she can be 8 going on 18, moody etc, I've brought this up with her teacher this week who said they'd keep an eye on her at school but otherwise, no real issues besides food etc

I'm afraid that's giving the message tht you think you can dictate school policy. If your daughter is allowed to bring juice, then other children will be allowed it too. Result? Lots of spilled, sticky drinks over books and on the floor. Schools have policies for a reason. Drinking water won't really 'negatively affect her health,' but drinking fruit juices could result in tooth decay.

DS2 never used to drink from a water bottle (but would drink water at home).
He used to have a drink with breakfast, carton of juice with his lunch, drink of water plus snack when back from school, and drink with dinner.
I drink (a pint) with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Occasionally an extra drink before or after dinner. It's probably not quite enough, but it is more than adequate.
Send the water bottle in with water. Ignore how much she (doesnt) drink, and make sure sufficient fluids are available outside of school hours.
Would she take high liquid items in her lunchbox? Fruit and veg mainly, but cucumber apple, melon, tomatoes?

School have rules for a reason. They are trying to encourage healthy habits. Stick with water, she will learn to drink it. Add other drinks to her lunch if you have to.

Teachers don’t have to follow the same rules, but they have plenty of other restrictions as a professional code of conduct.

Teachers are adults at work, using their voices as a tool, usually without breaks away from children within the school day.

I'm sure you're able to consume a drink of your choice at some point in the working day, without somehow being expected to 'set an example' to anyone.

Children need to learn to follow rules. If you won't back the school and admit your child will just refuse to do what she doesn't like, then you're part of a big problem.

“Unfair on kids” I’ll pull your child up a chair in the staff room and PD meetings. It’s only fair.

When you choose a school you agree to abide by the rules. You may be determined to have your way with this rule, another parent disagrees with the behaviour policy etc and there lies chaos.
YOU are the parent and can choose to home school. You can make all the rules there.