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

Larimarbleu - should never clean teeth straight after eating or drinking; far better to wait an hour.

Glad my kids have left school.

And I'm glad I'm not a teacher, I reckon I could cope with the children, it's the parents I'd have problems with.

Locomotives I will second that!

Damn predictive text .. meant lucyloubee :)

I understand not liking water. I need some flavour to my drinks or still feel thirsty/unsatisfied. I drink a lot of water, I just squirt flavouring in it.

Very true, Lucylouby.

I wasn't autistic. I was fussy. But should one be catered for when the other isn't?

You have just made my day

I'm really sorry my kindle HD has gone mad, once before today, but I thought that was due to going to google a link.

It seems to be being about as calm an logical as DD2 is about drinking water.

I'll report myself and see if MNHQ can tidy up.

Posting on iPhone, Kindle being rebooted in the hope it learns some manners.

Snooze: most kids with classic ASD and significant learning or physical disabilities will be allowed some leeway by any sensible school. Any school who doesn't allow exceptions for children with disabilities should be taken to task. In my experience special schools are usually very accommodating and mainstream schools make allowances when they are aware of specific and genuine issues. I have no doubt that there will be a tiny number of schools who have stupid leadership and dong consider specific genuine cases. But let's not forget that this thread is really about children who just don't like water and their parents who think they should be allowed to drink whatever they like during the school day.

haven't read whole thread but my autistic DS is fine with the water-only policy at his school. Don't most schools have it now ?
He gets a bit stressed about things (obviously, being autistic), but hadn't even thought about drinks.

You don't have to be autistic to have a totally illogical reaction to something.

The thing is, as adults, we tend to avoid things that make us freak out.

No HT tells DH he must drink milk or me that I must crawl through the tight tunnel on the assult course or go on a caving trip.

But schools do exactly this to DCs.

Many DCs are angels in school. If parents are a pita, sometimes, it's because their DCs explode as they keave the gates.

Has anyone now changed their mind and think that water only is sensible in view of the latest news that 26000 children had to go to hospital for tooth extractions last year?
Sipping sugary drinks all day from water bottles must be the worst idea possible!

For those who missed the shocking report it is here

Water only is fine for the classrooms. However, i think hot drinks (tea, hot chocolate) should be available for lunches.

For the children? I thought we were talking about children.
You can't have not drinks in a crowded dining hall.

Hot - not 'not'.

With more children admitted to hospital for teeth removal for rotten teeth than any other cause, surely a water only policy is a no brainer?

As for the ASD question schools usually make allowance for SN so tackle that as a separate issue.

I think they should be able to have squash or fruit juice with lunch

What's the problem. I grew up with only water at home. Never squash or fizzy. I didn't know I was missing anything. Now we have it at home because DH was brought up with the stuff. He can't eat without something sweet to drink.

I really don't understand why parents make such an issue out of this. Water is the best drink, and unless there is a medical reason why children need something else, then surely there is no issue.

What teachers drink in the staff room really has no bearing on this. Teachers are not pupils.

Will she drink sparkling water?

I always see these threads from the other side, as it were. My DS will not drink squash. At all. Even if thirsty to the point of dehydration (which, for him, starts with extreme grumpiness). Thanks to the DC campaigning for it, there is squash available at lunchtime, and breaks, and they take squash with them to matches. Personally, I see the point that lukewarm squash is more appetising than lukewarm water, but the net result is that DS has to go out his way / ask to get water instead of squash, and being a lazy medium sized boy, he doesn't.

I can therefore easily believe that there are DC for whom the opposite applies, and that they really do get dehydrated rather than admit defeat and drink water.

I think my subtle whinges have taken effect, though, as last time I tried to force a water bottle on him for a match day he told me that they take water with them now.

I assume that it hasn't changed any minds then. Those who think schools are unreasonable not to allow children to sip sugary drinks all day still think they are unreasonable.

I agree with the only water rule and think it's right.
I would expect to be told of the rule, because I would just consider it the norm.
Exceptional circumstances, I would expect a Head to cater for.