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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Primary school don't supply water

84 replies

NK632f09c8X1284e706623 · 29/03/2015 09:53

My son is in a small primary school. The only "drinking water" tap is in the school kitchen. They used to have water coolers in each classroom with named cups but that was deemed to expensive so instead of going to jugs of tap in each room they told everyone to bring in a named bottle of water.
My son will drink water when he's desperate and if that's what's openly available then fair enough.

If I have to provide him with a drink each day then I'll put in his bottle what I know he'll drink most of, especially if the weather is hot. I chose an opaque bottle, not to advertise the fact and have been sending him in with his usual home drink of no added sugar Robinsons blackcurrant. Turns out I'm not the only rebel and enough have been doing this to warrant a "provide water only" in the school newsletter.

Any thoughts? AIBU?

OP posts:

MrsCakesPrecognitionisSwitched · 29/03/2015 10:18

This is why some schools insist on transparent water bottles, so staff can see when children ate being given juice instead of water.

BTW, water split in the classroom or bookbag is a pain but not a long term problem as stuff dries. Squash turns everything into a sticky mess.

SaucyJack · 29/03/2015 10:18

I'm assuming they don't have a squash dispenser either though, so quite why you're using a lack of a water cooler as an excuse to send in squash is anybody's guess.

dementedpixie · 29/03/2015 10:21

The problem with refilling and drinking constantly is that the children then need to go to the toilet all the time which Is Disruptive too.

Sparklingbrook · 29/03/2015 10:23

I can quite understand why a child would not be overjoyed to be drinking room temperature water. My two regularly came out of First School with an untouched bottle. They used to sit them on the windowledge in the sunshine.

Also I agree with Elizabeth what is it with water? We didn't lug bottles of water about all day as children. Vaguely remember a drinking fountain but never went near it.

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:26

But once your son's juice is finished it's finished iccan't work out what you are moaning about send water in the water bottle like you are supposed to

clam · 29/03/2015 10:28

"I don't think it's necessary to have a go at me"

Sorry, but I think it is. In your OP you sounded almost gleeful that you'd found a way to buck the system, and send in juice when the school has made it quite clear that water only is to be provided. I've pointed out a likely reason why they have that rule it can adversely affect everyone else.

Why do you think it's OK for your child not to have to follow those rules?

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:29

The water at school thing started when dd1 was 7 or 8 i remember being humphy about it she managed fine before and didn't come home parched abd dried up

Highabove · 29/03/2015 10:30

Really not good for this teeth to sip squash all day, none is sugar free, just no added sugar.

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:31

Juice gets just as warm as water does q

Sparklingbrook · 29/03/2015 10:33

YY Mrsjayy, then we all had to try and buy a non leaky water bottle. Then in our case the water would go for a ride into school and come back again untouched in the afternoon ready for refilling the next day.

I used to just do as I was told at First School. They had to have a pair of wellies and a cagoule in school at all times. They used them once a term at most.

RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 29/03/2015 10:35

Your juice can't be refilled either so I don't really get your argument?

Simple fact is 1 large water bottle should be enough for a few hours in school. Juice is full of crap, unnecessary and problematic for the school. The school have asked for water (as is totally normal in schools across the whole country). Your ds won't die from having to drink water.

This argument comes up every year on mn. I have never yet seen a single thread where someone came up with a good enough reason that they had to bring juice to school. I don't understand why it's such a big deal tbh just send a bottle of water and forget it.

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:36

Btw the coolers were probably taken away cos it was a distraction and kids were needing a pee every half hour our primary had a whole campaign about brain function and water had coolers In place they lasted half a term

Sparklingbrook · 29/03/2015 10:37

My two didn't die by not drinking any of the water they took to school but it kept the school happy.

Pyjamaramadrama · 29/03/2015 10:38

Yabu, ds has survived until year 2 taking in the water bottle I provide for him.

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:39

In the summer i used to freeze water bottles over night so it wouldn't go warm they still didn't drink it

SylvaniansAtEase · 29/03/2015 10:40

Learning to drink water as a matter of course is probably one of the healthiest habits you can get into.

Do your child a favour and use this rule to get him into that habit.

Discopanda · 29/03/2015 10:41

I'm confused, don't schools have water fountains anymore? Have they are been removed for 'Elf and safety?

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:41

It's Britain not the Sahara kids do not keel over from lack of fluid

ButterflyUpSoHigh · 29/03/2015 10:42

Totally normal from all the schools I have been in. Mine take a small bottle of water in their lunch box and another bottle for classroom use.

Mrsjayy · 29/03/2015 10:42

Water fountains are long gone

Sparklingbrook · 29/03/2015 10:42

They have them at secondary Disco, and I think there was one at Middle School.

They should tell people at antenatal to get their babies used to drinking hours old lukewarm water ready for Reception.

Pyjamaramadrama · 29/03/2015 10:46

I'll never understand why people choose to pick battles with the school over this. It's such a non issue.

A bottle of water is perfectly adequate.

SavoyCabbage · 29/03/2015 10:47

I live in Australia where its 30+ through the summer and my dc have metal drinking bottles which I put in the fridge the night before and they stay cold all day.

SylvaniansAtEase · 29/03/2015 10:48

Argh posted too soon.

It's not about 'I use sugar-free squash, he'll drink more of that because he likes it so that's actually better for hydration and it's still ok.' I've heard that argument so many times, but that's not what you should be worrying about.

It's about children learning that drink/hydration = sweet tastes. About them not seeing plain water as a drink option at all. So, when they get older and are drinking whatever they please (and that's only a few years away) their tastebuds will have been trained to bypass the water bottles and go straight for the coke, Fanta, sprite etc. Piles of sugar, and/or piles of additives. Your child can otherwise have a quite healthy diet and end up consuming far far too much sugar simply by being thirsty on the way home from school/football/swimming and ending up drinking a couple of cans of soft drink every day. And their teeth...

And the number of health-conscious, dieting adults I know who simply CANNOT drink plain water and have to work to find ways of hydrating with sweet tastes despite wanting to live healthier - water with added fruit tastes, diet drinks. It's really bad.

MAKE him get used to water now - and learn that it's a good, refreshing option with a taste of its own. I love water. I've always drunk it. I'm so grateful that I don't have a taste for sweet drinks. It makes having a healthy diet x100 times easier.

Momagain1 · 29/03/2015 10:49

My son will drink water when he's desperate and if that's what's openly available then fair enough.

There is your answer. He will drink water if that's what he has. Water is what he is supposed to have, so send water.

Have you really thought about the message you are sending that it is acceptable to pick and choose which rules to choose to follow, and that sly coverups of rulebreaking are acceptable? Do you want to hear, 'but mum, everybody , you just __, so noone can tell!' ?

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