Water only at school- thoughts please

[lemony21]

I'd love to hear your thoughts about children being told to bring in only water to drink during school time.

Why would you love to hear that, OP? Who are you writing for?

I've never come across a school that didn't have this rule.

My DD's school say packed lunches should contain only water as that is what is provided for school dinners. Though with coloured bottles it's possible to provide weak squash

Only water? Perfect.

"Actually Bertrand my niece won't. She would allow herself to dehydrate rather than drink water."

She won't dehydrate between 9 and 3.15.

She will get thirsty, though.

Doctor's notes for children with ASD or similar reasons should cover any eventualities.

Could this be a time lapse post? Everyone surely knows that beer is much better to drink than water as you can avoid cholera or is it typhoid?

I'm a TA in a classroom of 8/9 year olds. Water bottles cause no end of hassle (namely refilling, leaks, spillages, the losing of and constant need for toilet trips to name but a few) - things would be so much worse if the drinks inside were anything other than water.
Spillages and leaks that tend to end up all over children and books would be grim if it were squash, sticky and smelly really as i can dab and blot books covered in water and leave them to dry but anything else would leave traces of smells/colour behind.
It's only a couple of hours in the morning, children are allowed other drinks (non fizzy) at lunch, then a few more hours in the afternoon.
No one will die if they don't drink for 3 hours if they won't drink water, therefore my thoughts are that the rules are sensible and I really don't see why anyone would have an issue with this.
My one disclaimer to this is a child in one of the other classes who has a problem with the kidneys and seems to need to drink gallons of liquid a day (don't know the full details as they aren't in my class!) and I think the parents are allowed to send other drinks in for them but that the child must visit the office to be given these.

I have to say though, and my dds drink water so I'm not making excuses. I ended up down the opticians and the Dr's as my dd was getting constant headaches.

Turns out between a hot stuffy classrooms (as if there's any other kind) and not wanting to drink in case she needed the bathroom and they weren't allowed to go at certain times in juniors, it was resulting in these headaches.

No its true they won't dehydrate in a couple of hours but in some circumstances with some children it can be a bit more problematic than first thought of the child won't drink.

Although yes I survived with drinking fountains and waiting til lunch.

Water only = Perfectly reasonable.

Is this going to be in next week's Daily Mail?

I actually thought it was normal for schools to only allow water. I think it is perfectly acceptable.

I work in a primary school and during a meeting today I mentioned maybe a note could be sent out to parents asking them not to send in sweets and chocolate bars for lunch. Really that's all some children bring! All agreed. I then mentioned that I didn't think it is healthy that some children bring in squash/fruit shoots etc and thought it would be good if everyone brought in water. Well that didn't go down quite as well. 2 other members of staff were very quick to comment that their children don't like water and strongly pointed out that the children have always had a choice to bring in water or squash. It was clear I wasn't going to get anywhere and I was well and truly over ruled. I'm not sure about whether to just leave it now or take my opinion to the head (who couldn't attend the meeting). I do feel that water is the healthiest drink, dentists and NHS recommend it and I have brought up my own children on mostly water, my 13yr & 8yr old have never had a problem. Is this just poor parenting or AIBU to expect all children to drink just water?

I'm in full agreement.

Great idea.

Squash attracts ants.

Anything fizzy or sticky would be a right mess if it spilled - not to mention the negative effect on attention and concentration that fizzy drinks have.

It's standard in every school I've ever known.

What's your point??

Thought it was pretty normal to have water only. DCs school also used to allow diluted juice a while back but scrapped this after an unfortunate incident with some bees.

Oops, X-posted!

Sorry, op.

Sounds like your school is in the dark ages!

My DS's school has this rule and everyday he would come out of class with a full water bottle, a headache and really dry lips/mouth. He just really does not like water. I now give him flavoured water and tell him not to tell anyone after the school nurse commented that he seemed dehydrated during the day. No more complaints and he is much more alert now too.

At home we drink weak squash or diluted juice. I find with myself, water doesn't quench my thirst and weirdly makes my mouth dry

What, no Pimms? Just water? How frightfully dull.

In relation to the reaction of the two other members of staff, I can't help thinking 'my DC doesn't like water' has to be one of the most indulgent sentences ever spoken (in the absence of eg ASDs).

I think water is fine for the classroom but juice should be allowed at lunchtime

I personally hate water, either out of the tap or bottled, but I will drink it if is flavoured

My DC were always allowed juice, and they have grown to adulthood ok

So we're talking about in packed lunches OP?

Then I think they should be allowed to take in squash or fruit juice.

If it's just a drink for the classroom then water.

Lucky you having kids that liked water

I'd have rather become dehydrated as a kid (and did) than drink water. The stuff is foul. Even now it's a very rare occasion I can drink plain water.

No fizzy drinks, yep
No fruit shoot style drinks , yep
No Squash, a draconian bridge waaaaay too far

Ours have squash or water in packed lunches, water only in classrooms. It helps with good health and fewer ants!

My dds are in their early 20s and theyve only ever been allowed to take in water.

I though all schools did this, it's 2017 and we all know squash is full of shite sugar.

I'm happy for sqaush at lunch, it gives them variety.