To complain to school?

[Notthinkingclearly]

Dd went on a school trip and was able to feed lots of different birds. I asked her if they had to wash their hands before lunch and she said no! Apparently teachers did. AIBU to complain about this. Looking at venue website it states there are lots of areas to wash hands for visitors. Not sure if I am over reacting as I am very big on washing hands.

I can imagine my 7 y.o saying they didn't wash their hands but when quizzed further it would go something like "did you go to the toilet in between?" "Yes" " Did you wash your hands after going to the toilet? " "oh yeah"

Kids can be so literal - she may not think they washed their hands specifically before lunch, but if you dig deeper they may have washed right after feeding the birds at the handwash stations provided, or all taken to the loos and expected to wash hands after that.

I wouldn't say anything, because it could weaken your relationship with the staff and tbh that matters a lot, IME. But I would drill DD that she should always say she needs the loo, and then wash hands before meals, in future - that means the other kids won't think she is being prissy.

X post!

Are you worried about bird flu? Chicken pox? Pigeon toes?

If the teacher's washed their hands, I'm willing to bet most of the other students did too, and your daughter was too distracted to hear or follow directions.

Surely feeding birds just involves chucking seeds at them?

I'd have thought so

Srsly. Were these particularly well trained birds that perched on their hands (a la Snow White)?

I have helped on school trips. I always send then with hand sanitiser as it seems hand washing before eating is dependent on how fussy the parent helper of the group is. I think that is pretty yuck at the best of times but worse as they use the tube as transport alot.

The level of detail that goes into the most basic trip makes it hard to beleive that the children were not directed to wash their hands. Whether your child actually did so is a different matter. We are close to a children's farm and every school trip I have observed involves kids being directed to the sinks, hands washed then moved to the other side with a blob of hand sanitiser, that does involve feeding animals though so probably higher risk.

How about asking an adult what happened rather than complaining as a first step?
Certainly on the risk assessments for trips I've done, handwashing after handling stuff and before food was factored in, or gel used.

pet food by law has to he fit fir human consumption.

the seeds are just seeds we can eat those. touching them.and not washing hands wouldn't be harmful

Might she have forgotten washing her hands?

I wouldn't complain

1. At 8, washing her hands is something she should be responsible for

1. There were signed everywhere. Which usually tell you to sanitise straight after feeding.

1. It's more likely they were told to wash their hands and your dd didn't hear it.

I wouldn't expect a teacher to take them all to the toilet and supervise hand washing.

We never bother washing hands after filling up the bird feeder (at home). This just isn't something I'd get worked up about.

Mind you, I always send my class to wash their hands before lunch at school, have listened dutifully to handwashing talks from the nurse, but still never bother with washing my own hands before lunch or asking dd to wash her hands before lunch at home.

It's amazing we're both so healthy.

Risk assessment would ha ve had toile ting and hand washing/ sanitising on it. Perhaps they were told and your daughter didn't follow instructions because she was excited or chatting. Were the birds on her hands? Wouldn't have thought just seed would be a problem but if the birds were feeding from their hands I can't believe they weren't sent to wash hands. I always take sanitiser as well for those that escape following instructions then want to do it when you are well away from hand washing facilities!
Parents are quick to complain but very rarely do we get a thank you for taking them. It is very tiring and we give extra time before, after and during the day ( lunchtime) for free yet rarely does a parent say thank you. I wouldn't go and complain unless you really think it is a huge problem. Why don't you ask one of the parent helpers? If you really want to know go and ask but please don't accuse until you have heard the full story.

Sure, you could complain.

Or, you could thank the staff for taking your child out for a fun day out.

Did you bother finding out what actually happened?

So they all stood in a line or group watching the teachers wash their hands but didn't do their own.? That sounds very odd, so odd I find it hard to believe!

When my children go on school trips I always ask if they had a nice time, what they did, who they were paired up with etc. At no time, ever, did I think to ask them if they washed their hands

I wonder if the teacher told them to wash their hands and she did not listen, or forgot. Is that a possibility?

Agree with AntorDec. What on earth possessed you to think of asking your child if they'd washed their hands?