To think water only at school is ridiculous

[Joanne279]

I'm having a gripe at my kids new school. We werent informed of the water only rule before we started.

Ds aged 6 and dd aged 9 (suffers with autism) now refuse to drink.

Ds, on the grounds he hates water. I gave him flavoured water which he likes, but the school said no!!!!!

Dd, has been allowed to take squash because is her ASD but now refuses to even take a drink because she's different to everyone else. She won't drink water at all.

The teachers all drink coffee/tea in the staff room but kids are water only! Surely the teachers should be setting the example?

I've rang the council who say the healthy rules are at the school discretion. I'm waiting for a call back from the head teacher because I think it's stupid! I could understand if I was sending them with coke or lucozade, but flavoured water a no no? Really?

Just wondered what you all thought x

Is it only water in the classrooms or only water at all times? Ours are allowed water bottles on their tables in lessons but can drink other drinks at playtime and lunchtime.

Does your school provide milk at playtime for eg?

I think water only is sensible. Plus otherwise where do they draw the line?

Not even milk?

Can you give good Sad Face for the paps?

I think you should have room for negotiation. Kids at our school with kidney issues (needed to maintain high fluid intake) were allowed weak squash even if everyone else had to have just water.

How big is the school?

Not really relevant what teachers drink, they are adults and make their own decisions. I don't like water only for DCs, though.

I think you should use this to your advantage and encourage it tbh.

My DS used to hate water but after a few weeks of this rule being enforced he got used to it and now drinks water more often than anything else, as he should really.

I think you are probably going to have much bigger things to deal with/fight for at school eventually, so pick your battles.

It isn't just about you though.

The school don't want to be mopping a stick mess up every five minutes, or making sure Petunia isn't having a reaction to Helena's juice.

The children won't die of thirst.

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. Yes, there might be a few children who have a genuine reason to be exempted but as a general rule I think it's perfectly sensible and have no problem at all with the rule at my DCs school.

It not something I would have expected to be told about before they started, tbh I would have assumed that would be the rule anyway. I really don't think that what the teachers drink is relevant at all.

Can you use some food clourings of flavourings? I remember a mumsnetter saying she used to put vanilla extract in the water - you can get clear citrus flavourings too.

Another used to put blue colouring in - but the school probably wouldn't like that!

Yes agree it's bloody daft. Just send them in with squash. I honestly wonder what the fuck some HT think their job is.

Just teach.

Could you decant still, clear, flavoured water into a normal water bottle so they wouldn't know? You could water it down a little if it is too strong.

Yabu. If they don't want water, they're not thirsty.

It's not ridiculous. Your kids will get used to having a bland drink.

It's because it's sticky as well as bad for teeth.

Water wipes with a paper towel - even art work dries out.
juice leaves a sticky mess and needs properly cleaned and ruins the work.
Split milk is just awful.

It's water only at our school - healthier and better for their teeth are a bonus.

I think water only is fine.

If you're really upset about it, just send 'flavoured water' in a bottle they can't see through and they'll never know.

Our school makes rules like this and then makes various allowances for kids when their parents have complained. The kids who are sticking to the rules feel it's unfair and feel cheated. Unfortunately some parents are not above fibbing about little Johnnie's water infections and the need for regular barley squash.

One rule for all I think is the best policy.

My two (both asd) have never had a problem with the water only rule. Possibly because it was water/milk only in nursery & at home I drink lots if water. Fruit juice is a once a day with the evening meal drink.

When ds first started they did have sugar free juice on offer at lunchtime which he was intolerant too & he couldn't understand why he couldn't have it (hard to explain to an I diagnosed asd 4 year old). I was so glad when the rules changed.

They'll learn to cope. Ours don't take any drinks in from home, just empty water bottles that they refill at the cooler.

I have to say that an exception was made for ds once. He was on 4 times a day flucoxacillin for cellulitis (had been on verge of hospital admission) & the only way we could get him to take the revolting stuff was hidden in very very strong vimto or Ribena.

So I went into school each lunchtime to give it to him. He sat. & drank the bottle in reception area. away from the others

Teachers are adults, why do they need to monitored about what they drink. If your child doesn't want water then he's not thirsty. Yabu.

*Yes agree it's bloody daft. Just send them in with squash. I honestly wonder what the fuck some HT think their job is.

Just teach*

That!!

Sometimes I think the whole world has gone bloody mad!

Apart from anything else, your kids need to get used to following rules. They won't always get their own way in life, and getting to accept that is part of their education.

If you don't like the school rules, find another school.

I think it's a good rule, sorry.

When your children are at school they are responsible for all aspects of education and care, this includes healthy food policies.

There are families that give their babies and toddlers coke and other fizzy, sugary drinks in bottles, there are families who give their children shite to eat all day everyday.

When a child bought up like this goes to school and experiences healthy attitudes towards food and drink it is for their benefit so I don't understand people saying teachers should just teach, this is just a different subject being taught surely?

I don't see the problem with only being allowed water, but do agree that HT ought to have better things to worry about.

I don't see the problem.

As others have said, if he won't drink it he's not thirsty.