Is it unreasonable not to give a 9 year old breakfast?

[Towelsandcats]

Just as it says above really - otherwise fairly healthy diet but breakfast causes rushing in the morning.

Get them up earlier?

Sending them to school with an empty belly seems a bit....Victorian.

If you're not giving it because there's no time then you need to make time. It is unreasonable not to encourage a child to eat something....even a banana or a yogurt.

If a 9 year old isn't hungry and doesn't want to eat breakfast I don't think there's anything you can do, having a battle over food is never worth the stress and anxiety.

Get up earlier then?

Yes it would unreasonable to not offer a child breakfast just to save a bit of rushing.

And it's not breakfast causing rushing in the morning but not getting up early enough....

Yes it's unreasonable. Many children can't concentrate and learn properly on an empty stomach. There is empirical research to support this, thus school breakfast clubs being subsidised sometimes etc.

Get yourself in gear and either get up earlier or find a quick breakfast solution.

The 9 year old doesn't have to be given breakfast - put on alarm 10 mins earlier and leave it to them. If they prefer a lie-in, then it is their decision?

When I was struggling for time, we had cereal bars, a glass of milk and fresh fruit (which he could eat on the walk to school). I think it's better than nothing, unless the child really doesn't want breakfast, in which case I'd maybe send it in as a snack for break time.

Gunpowder it really isn't up to a 9 year old though.....that's too young to be left to their own devices regarding food....of course a child of 9 can make breakfast but many would not have the strength of mind or the organisational skills to prioritise that over lying in bed.

Yes, she prefers a lie in. I leave at the same time in the morning as she does (early!) and it's so rushed getting it sorted.

My 13 year old doesn't have the strength of mind or organisational skills to prioritise it either! I can't force feed her!

Wouldn't we all prefer a lie in than to have to get up in the morning! Unfortunalty that's not always possible and you need to wake her early enough that she does get a chance to have breakfast without rushing around.

Realistically for a 9 year old it's not going to take more than 10 mins to do a bit of breakfast

If it's down to preferring to stay in bed rather than not being genuinely hungry I think you need to re-think the routine.

I don't think saying she 'prefers a lie in' is reasonable. We all prefer a lie in - she's 9, just make her get up in time! If she still doesn't want to eat it, that's a different matter.

If she's not hungry then fine but if it's purely a time thing then have things on the go as suggested above - banana, cereal bars, sandwich made the night before, smoothies etc.

It doesn't really matter whether she prefers a lie-in, though. She's nine years old and should be eating breakfast. As her mum, it's your responsibility so she either needs to stop dawdling, or get up earlier so she has the time to eat something. It doesn't need to be a big meal - a banana or some toast or a cereal bar would do, but sending a 9 year old to school/out for the day on an empty stomach doesn't sit right with me.

Have you thought about insisting on an earlier bed time?

Of course it is. How are they going to learn anything at school with no fuel inside them? Get up earlier.

Get up earlier then. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. If she isn't immediately hungry then she soon will be once she gets to school.

And if a 9yo can't drag herself out of bed in the morning she needs to go to sleep earlier.

I would feel judgey if a pupil told me their parents didn't get up early enough to feed them in the morning.

Can she have a cereal bar for the walk to school? Not ideal but better than nothing.

She can get something to take with her if she wants

Im shocked this is a serious question.

As somebody in a classroom setting, believe me, you can tell the kids that eat breakfast and those that do not. Children always perform better when they have a full belly and can focus on the task in hand. Plus, children are always growing....you may be able to skip breakfast but you aren't adding extra inches onto your bones and sprouting like a weed.

A piece of fruit, a smoothie, even a sandwhich made the night before and left in the fridge.....but please make sure that your child gets something. Also, if she mentions in school that she hasn't been getting breakfast then you may find yourself under some pretty close scrutiny. After all, its a legal obligation to feed children.

Piece of fruit or a cereal bar. Shove it in her hand. Done.

Why don't you just both get up 15 minutes earlier?

And as important as food, if not more, she needs a drink as well after sleeping. So milk or juice as well as something to eat (unless cereal with milk of course).