Why does a 45 min children's activity necessitate a snack?

[Naicecuppatea]

Just that really, looking at summer activities for DC, and get a bit fed up with the need for bringing a snack, as well as water, for a 45 min or 1 hour activity. A snack shouldn't be needed surely! 2-3 hours long would be a different matter perhaps. AIBU - or do we have too much of a snack culture these days especially among children who aren't expected to go for an hour without one?

Or does it fill up the time without any input from the organiser? That would be my guess..

Meh, I struggle to go an hour without eating tbh.

It seems that Society is set so pretty much any activity requires a snack!

Frustrating though because I cannot be bothered to pack one for them.

A lot of the playgroups we go to have 'snack time' as the children all have to sit nicely around a table, take turns taking items from plates, drink from a open cup etc it they are all under 3.
I don't think older kids need a snack for activities under 1 hour in duration, just s bottle of water.

It is basically the culture we have now I'm afraid. There is a belief that children should be having several snacks every day whether they need it or not.

Depending on the activity water is reasonable but snack is silly

It depends on the activity, but having them sit together and eat may be a good way to socialise the children.

Water if it's a sport, snack is totally unnecessary.

Sounds more like a way of getting out of actually doing the activity with them. I mean allow 15 mins or more for eating plus wastes time parebts have actually paid for do, you know, do a sport or play or whatever.

lazy

It depends on the activity. Sometimes sitting and eating together is good.

Or maybe the organisers find that lots of child moan that they want a snack, so it easier of the parents have sent one.

My kids after school club is a sport. They don't have a snack during that.

I went for a walk with friends and ours dcs, and they spent half an hour packing their "snacks". It was a one hour walk. Apparently they have to bribe them with chocolate every ten minutes.

Children are 12, 10 and 9.

because heaven forbid a child has the merest tinkling pang of hunger anymore.

People are obsessed with snacks for kids now. They even give them snack as "something to keep them busy"

it's weird

I really hate seeing especially adults clutching water bottles as if they're trekking the jungle. Ffs its the high street !

I agree hence my children are the only 2 cubs to have to go a whole hour and a half without eating (cubs happens straight after dinner).

My children come home from school utterly ravenous. I stopped thinking of the food I give them after school as a snack, and consider it a fourth small meal. I think that possibly they get tiny portions at lunch. They are 6 and 9, and both tallish, slim and physically active.

Depends on the kids. Mine snack, but healthy stuff. Shove a couple of babybells and apples in your handbag with a bottle of water.

It's a time waster I think, and a lazy form of "activity".

If they want to socialise them and teach them to take turns surely a 15 minute game of poker would serve them better in later life!

I know a few people who played superb poker in uni and paid their way. Can't say the same about snacking.

Bugs me too.
As for parents bringing small Tupperware tubs of crisps, grapes, cheese, etc to church .....

Snacking is hugely responsible for a lot of fatness!

I hadn't thought of the time involved eating. The activity concerned is a sport. I would much rather they spent the whole hour playing the sport I'm paying for, rather than taking a 15 minute unnecessary snack break!

Ah here, snacks at Mass is out of control!

There is definitely a "snack culture" going on. DS1 went to toddler group a few times with his minder and they were giving them marshmallows and biscuits every week after about 30 minutes of play. Totally unnecessary.

Yanbu. I find the snack culture is generally one of two things- food as a babysitter, or a competitive parenting thing. 'Ooh look what a great mum I am, constantly hovering with nasty rice cakes lest my child has to actually ask or wait for food' 'I see your rice cake hovering and I raise you homemade organic olive pate which I vow to shovel in my dc regardless of whether they are hungry' 'full house I have both those and an anchovie soufflé served on spinach, lovingly carved into fingers and stored in my Lakeland Tupperware incase my position as best parent ever was challenged'.

When our children were much younger they used to do a half hour swimming lesson on a Sunday morning. Some parents used to bring snacks and sweets for their children. I told mine they could have lunch when we got home.
One day I was in a grumpy mood and started a bit of a rant about how I was so fed up of walking barefoot over the chewed up spat out raisins which were always left on the floor.
My friend nudged me and grinned as we then spotted the guilty parent going round picking them all up. She didn't bring raisins again.

I think it depends on when the activity is. If it was for an hour straight after school then my two would be ravenous. Straight after breakfast or lunch then that's weird!

Depends on the time and how long between meals though I think this all day grazing is a bad habit.