to be shocked at pre-school handing out sweets?

[RidgewayLass]

DD did not know what "sweets" meant until she started pre-school. Since then she has been offered 1 or 2 fun-size Milky Ways twice, both times just before lunch ffs, and yesterday it was lollipops and chews. It looked like all the other children were having sweets, and there was no alternative treat for children who are not allowed sweets. At home we do have sweet biscuits, cakes, puddings, icecream, but we are very wary how much pure glucose or sugar DD gets in one go.

I told her the lollipop and the chew were very bad for her teeth, and she asked "well if they are so bad for my teeth, why did my teachers give them to me?" Why did they? I thought the schools were supposed to do healthy eating - where does this fit in?

Why have so many mumsnetters posted so many early comments?! YANBU at all. There are so many things to give kids so why teach them sugar rushes by giving them sweets? I don't get it and although, yes, my dc's will encounter sweets at some point I think it is irresponsible for the school to give out sweets when there are so many other things to give them. I will never understand this almost desperate need some people have to give their kids sweets

I meant SARKY comments but my bloody phone changed the word to early

Suger rush is a myth MsKalo, there is no scientific evidence it exists. Yes some people who have diabetes may have problems with sugar but they have the same problems with any carbohydrate ie pasta or a baked potato.

sorry I know you are cross mrsK but lolo at your bloody phone changing sarky to early

yabu

Squares of 85% chocolate? I would be more worried about caffeine and migraine than a sugar rush from a milky way!

Bit surprised by all the YABU's as this annoys me too- only it's just given out at the end of sessions for birthdays. My 2.10 yr old DS1 still has naps after lunchtime so if he has a big sweet at 12 when coming out of playgroup, it spoils his lunch and makes him so giddy he won't sleep even though he's knackered. I won't ask them not to give him a sweet as I'd look silly. I give DS1 chocolate buttons for random stuff but lollies seem totally ridiculous to give an under-3.

Ooh yummy usualsuspect

Haven't read whole thread so apologies if it's already been said. Feel similarly to others about sweets - one of the joys of childhood really. But am really curious about the 400 words-by-the-age-of-2 thing. how do you know? Did you count them OP? Do people really do that?

While I am not particular precious about sweets as DD does get the occasional 'treat', I do believe that it is MY treat to give. I get to choose as I am the mummy and there is no need for them to be given at school.
For those who really think fruit and sweets are the same thing, think again. Fruit and many other produce contain fruit sugars (natural fructose) not glucose/sucrose. This has a very low glycemic index, which means it raises your blood sugar only a third as much as glucose (weight for weight)and releases a third as much insulin.

have you nothing better to worry about than a child eating a few sweets?

I am curious about this fear of tantrum thing that the OP mentioned. This is not the first time I have heard anti sweet parents cite this as a big plus of their policy. Their kids don't know what sweets are so they have never had them throw a tantrum for one.
My kids are (almost)4 and 2 and get sweets in moderate amounts, usually a jelly or marshmallow after their dinner each day and half a packet of buttons each from their dad on a Friday. I'll also let them try anything I have - ice cream, cake etc. Other people give them lollies now and again which I don't object to.
They know what sweets are and I have never had one throw a tantrum in a shop because I wuoldn't get them some. They ask, I say no and thats the end of it. They know I don't buy them stuff just like that. On the other hand I have had tantrums over other stuff - do you not OP? Do you really think tantrums are confined to argumnents over sweets? Or just the one over sweets are worse?

Sorry cheezcurl - i don't know if you thought that one of my posts was about fruit being a no-no to give. My DS is also fructose intolerant and so giving him fruit as an alternative would be just as damaging as a sucrose sweet or dairy sweet. I agree, parents have the ultimate decision as to what their DCs should/shouldn't have and when to have it. That with most things in life is a skill our DCs need to learn. When to say yes, when to say no, when to ask if it is OK.

cheezcurl, I agree with you. It should be the parent's choice, not the school's. Ds gets the occasional treat as well - it isn't 'forbidden fruit' but he doesn't get it everyday and not just randomly. He's 4 and is just as happy eating melon, strawberries or yoghurt for dessert as he is when he has a bowl of ice cream (which he does get from time to time). I think it is ridiculous that sweets and chocolate are introduced to children at such an early age. What on earth is the point? No wonder we have an obesity problem in this country. I think those of you who do give sweets and chocolate are ridiculously defensive of your decision to the point of offensiveness towards those who do not agree with you. "get a grip" indeed

No body is being defensive, this is a just another pfb thread about someone trying to make out their such a good parent because they have banned something whether it be sweets, plastic toys , barbie or jaqueline Wilson. Some have managed to raise perfectly nice children without being control freaks

yy bruffin

Sweets taken in because it is a child's birthday. What a nice gesture. Not yours to dictate what people chose to take to nursery and to give. Your daughter needs to learn to accept a gift or a token graciously lest she grows up to be rude and ungrateful. Let her have the sweets and help her brush her teeth when you get home - presumably you haven't banned that too.

I usually find that the children that have no sweets at home are the ones that are very greedy when they go to parties.

There is absolutely no truth in the fact that "children go off like a rocket on a mouthful of sugar". It's pure bollocks, so firstly get your facts straight, OP.

Secondly, there is no harm in having sweets now and again, in the same way as there's no harm in having a glass of wine (for adults obviously) once in a while. Stop being so totally PFB about it. YABU. Very.

I agree cinpin. When my DS was little I had a very strict 'no sweets' rule and was quite judgemental about my SIL who allowed my nieces the odd sweetie.

Cue a family party where bowls of sweets had been left out and my DS nearly made himself sick stuffing the forbidden treats in his mouth. Of course, my nieces had a couple of sweets and then ignored the bowls. I was so embarrassed but I did learn a lot about not forbidding certain foods.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it.

The thing is I was only doing what I thought was right at the time and what so many books appeared to be advocating.

Totally agree SGM but was a bit at the thought of my dd throwing a tantrum and me yelling 'Be quiet am trying to parent you'

I used to run a playgroup and always made homemade biscuits and cakes every week. One mum moaned and moaned about it as her dd would have a massive tantrum if she wasnt allowed more than one. I thought it a bit odd because I thought if that was my dc I would use it as a 'safe' nonjudgey environment for her to do so and me to ignore iyswim but the mum didnt see it like that at all.

Thing is JoBettany all the books say a different thing. Sweets are best avoided but the mother and toddler group I go to , they are allowed a plain malted milk biscuit and you always get a couple of mums bringing out their oat cakes which I think is a bit OTT.

I was a devotee of Annabel Karmel and just went the whole hog with it.

I made everything from scratch and avoided all sweets, chocolate and biscuits.

Poor DS.

However we both grew out of it!