AIBU about snacks..

[TheRandomer]

Picking DD (5years) up from school I was met by the teacher who informed me that DD had missed playtime due to taking another childs snack. All children have access to fruit from the school as a snack which my DD has.

Now obviously taking another childs food is wrong and this has been discussed with her and suitably disciplined. However am I AIBU to think the school should not br allowing sugary snacks? it is little wonder this could conflict with those eating fruit and healthier options.

Just asking for opinions before I speak to the teacher tomorrow!

If you are reluctant to send her in with an unhealthy snack THEN YOU DON'T DO IT. End of story. YOU are her parent, you make the decisions concerning her and stand up for them, you don't need other parents to do that.

You have dealt with the discipline issue and that is fine; now you need to own your decision about her lunch box.

In years to come, you will find that this is what parenting is about: not letting hang around the park after dark because her friend is doing it, not buying her that bottle of vodka because everybody else's parent is doing it, not letting her sleep over with her 14yo boyfriend because Katie next door is doing it. You will find it goes an awful lot easier if you have managed to get her used to the idea that you are fair and reasonable but completely uninterested in what other children get away with. Speaking as the mother of teenagers.

You wouldn't know on the dietary requirements.

And fruit isn't actually a great choice for a mid morning snack as it's packed full of sugar. Dentist told DS fruit only at mealtimes or when there is easy access to a toothbrush.

Ironically there's more sugar in a small apple than rice crispies marshmallow squares...

and my dentist told me a few horror stories about fruit taking enamel off people's teeth

Entitled mother, entitled daughter.

My neighbour has a rather nice car. I really think it's unfair that he has such a nice car since I'm not allowed to drive. Hardly seems fair really - I think that I should appeal for our street to be car-free because it's not fair on me. .

@WannaBe i might do the same

I think the OP is getting rather a hard time here. At my DC' school they all get fruit as a snack, and are not allowed to take in anything else (I understand that there may be children who need different snacks for medical reasons), but if others were bringing in tastier, sugary snacks My DC would be upset, and would question why she couldn't take the same.
The snatching side of this has been acknowledged by the OP. I don't imagine any of us can say our children are perfect, and she has told DC off.

Nasty post, danTDM ... I'm sure there's a bandwagon on another thread for you to leap onto.

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OP, this was a mistake on your daughter's part and the school has dealt with it - as have you. It's not a big thing. You've already said that you won't speak to the teacher about it. If it were my child, I might send her to school with fruit on four days of the week - and a sugary - or savoury (if that's better?) snack of her choice - for the last day of the week perhaps?

Don't take it to heart... and ignore the goadies.

You are within your rights to say your DD shouldn't have sugary snacks, but not to police what other parents give their kids.

OP have you seen the grazebox snacks? some of them are really tasty and good for you as well, maybe she's getting bored of fruit

Why did your dd miss playtime if she took the snack and gave it back? (Nice little dripfeed there). I'm assuming she gave it back under duress, after she'd been rumbled.
The focus shouldn't be about another child's choice of snack; but your daughter appropriating those she likes better. It's stealing.

But an apple is more sugary than an marshmallow square....

9grams of sugar vs 15 grams for a small apple.

Fruit is great as part of a health diet but not necessarily a healthy snack

The child is only 5 for goodness sake, she did something she shouldn't and it's been dealt with by school and parents. Children make mistakes all the time, it's called growing up!! A lot of over reaction on here I think.
OP I agree with you about the school not being clear on their snack policy, but also think that it's a separate issue so you have to be careful that the teacher doesn't think you are trying to deflect blame. At my DCs school it's only fruit at snack time.

I think LyingWitch is on to it there. Stick with fruit/healthy options for most of the week, and have a special 'treat' as a snack as the end of the week or even just every now and then as we all deserve a treat occasionally.
Or tell her instead of having pudding (or whatever) at home she can take something as a treat to school, it's an option she can choose.

But I would leave it a while as I wouldn't want DD to link it to this incident at school. Kids eh?

And wanted to add I agree it should be a healthy only option at school. I like the idea of carrots, cucumber etc rather than just fruit everyday.

It's fair enough for you to want to know what the school's policy on snacks is. I'm very surprised that it hasn't been made clear. Though it sounds as though you want to send your child in with healthy snacks anyway, so actually the policy wouldn't really affect you whatever it is. You don't sound like you'd think "Oh anything is allowed, so it's mars bars and monster munch for dd from now on!"

So either the other child's parents were breaking the rules or they weren't. Either way it sounds as though you've only taken an interest in the school's healthy eating policy or lack thereof as a reaction to your child getting in trouble.

You cannot police other parents. You CAN teach your own character of boundaries and ownership rules.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I quite like your suggestion of a treat at the end of the week. But yes Lemon12345 I will it a while!

I think some people are misunderstanding the intention behind my post!

*character=child. Ff so mumsnet, add an edit button fgs

This is ridiculous from some of you. She's five! She made an error in judgement and it's not a big deal. She's not a bully or a thief. OP, don't worry about what she did but I don't think you can blame the school's snack policy. Sorry, YABU in that respect.

And for those who are concerned their children will be upset by lack of adherence to school rules - welcome to the party and get used to this tip of the iceberg you are heading for.

Nothing much to add really, other than to say things have vastly improved in schools, health-wise since I was a wee kipper. Ahh, the tuck shop. My mum used to give me 25p and for that I could buy 2 bags of Tangy Toms and one of those really sugary juice drinks that came in a plastic bottle with a plastic lid that you snapped off. Those were the days.

Well my youngest likes those mini cucumbers that you can get in Lidl but she likes them dipped in Nutella so has those mini pots to take. Strange kid. I hate chocolate (although love cucumbers so much), so perhaps I can blame her dad for that culinary oddment...

I would rather my kids take savoury or what I call 'neutral' foods than sweet, something like cherry tomatoes or bits of cheese but they do seem to have a bit of a sweet tooth.

I remember those drinks ShowMePotatoSalad, I loved the cherry one, if we're thinking of the same thing.

jeez, tough crowd OP. Could've gone either way...

FWIW mine only get fruit snacks (as per healthy eating policy at school) once a week the one on packed lunch will take a bag of crisps in her lunch box. I convince myself she'll thank me for being slim and healthy in future :D

Op, the school may well ask parents to give only healthy snacks to their children but patents don't always follow what they are asked to do!!! Please don't try and blame the school in any way, shape or form.