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.

Rainbow, I think the point about doctors is that IF non-water is needed, then it will be for an already-known medical condition e.g. issues with kidneys, ASD etc, which will already be documented and known by the school. There wouldn't be a 'medical need for non-water drinks' without any other, alrready-diagnosed, condition being present.

Yes, for example I'm sure that if you had within a short space of time seen the same child for several, painful uti's then you would be investigating & if it came up in conversation that the child would not drink anything at school due to only water being allowed you would surely document that the child needed access to whatever fluids they would tolerate (we now know Bruce as an asd but didn't in primary)

Water only during class at our school. Kids are allowed squash or fruit juice with their packed lunch. They only get water given if on school dinners. They are allowed plain milk but no milkshake. However I can't imagine the state milk would be in on a hot day as paced lunched aren;t refrigerated.

One of my kids only drinks water, no juice or milk (unless chocolate milk as a treat). The other one prefers squash or milk but drinks water in school as that is what is given.

Yes, for example I'm sure that if you had within a short space of time seen the same child for several, painful uti's then you would be investigating & if it came up in conversation that the child would not drink anything at school due to only water being allowed you would surely document that the child needed access to whatever fluids they would tolerate (we now know Bruce as an asd but didn't in primary)

Perfectly fine to me

Yes, it's a good idea, unless there is a medical reason. This will be catered foe as it is at my dds school. All the kids accept this as do the adults.

"Not liking water" is the most precious, special snowflake fussy thing. "Gets my goat" as they say on mn - not implying it has to do with benefits just like the phrase.

DS2 (4) wouldn't drink water if he was abandoned in a desert. He only does 1/2 day nursery currently and never touches the bottle regardless of what's in it. I've taken to putting a tiny amount of apple squash (its colourless) so at least when I pick him up I make sure he drinks from his bottle. At home he drinks sugarless tea, so weak its transparent, but lots of milk or very dilute squash.

The water idea is great in theory but if a child won't drink it then I'm not going to enforce it. DS1 only drinks water because that's what he prefers.

"DS2 (4) wouldn't drink water if he was abandoned in a desert."

You know something? I think he might...........

Yes he might in a desert but certain,y not in nursery

Its standard in all the primary schools that I have taught in or had my children in, in Scotland at least for the classroom. They can bring a bottle of water in but no juice.
At school lunch all that is supplied is flavoured milk or plain, pure juice or water.
If children choose to bring in squash for packed lunch or snack its up to parents.

I should have said unless it is due to a medical or sensory issue obviously.

(I'm thinking particularly of adults who say it i suppose, but I would also not pander to a well, nt child who claimed to dislike water. Disprefer it = fine. Dislike = dont be silly)

Wateraid

I do worry about all those children who won't drink water.

Maybe we should look into sending donations of squash..............

Water only is the standard since Reception.

To keep the water nice add some ice cubes in the morning. During the day DD also can refill the bottle if it gets too warm or she - rare - empties it.

Water fountains are also available in the playground.

For school dinner they can have milk and water and packed lunches can have a pack of juice as well. Must be juice, no fizz or other stuff.

nowt wrong with a pint of ale for lunch

We only drink water at home so it suits us. In fact my boys need much more water. They tend to drink a pint at a time at home and the school brought in these tiny tiny tiny cups for water - utterly pathetic.

No child once weaned off breastmilk needs to drhink anything but water.

In fact the best thing you can do for your child's health is only give them water and by the way if you say they will die of thirst just try it - they won't , they'll drink water.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=pee+chart&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2yNvsw4DTAhUjI8AKHXEEDlsQ_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=7fZykH2Mf6ycRM:

^ feel offended all you like but we give this chart out every year and there are plenty of well fed children and adults in the first world who are experiencing dehydration even when they appear clinically well.

Water from a bottle in a hot over heated classroom is really unpleasant and I agree with other pp these bottles are often difficult to clean.
I am not sure that luke warm cordial, sugar free or otherwise will taste much better but I know that mine drank this where they left water.

Interesting thread all.

Just a thought that if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. So between 9-3 yes, it's possible for them to be dehydrated. Just wandering if it's worth it.

"DS2 (4) wouldn't drink water if he was abandoned in a desert."

You know something? I think he might...........

.

I thought this was fairly standard now in schools.

Though having said that policing it I think in the children's current school seems to be a bit of a nightmare.

They now have to insist on clear bottles - so reception now have sell these so no excuse not to have access - plus one of my children last year was water monitor in one class - ie had to empty all the bottles and refill with tap water - I only know because they said.

Plus there are children out there with very strict eating and drinks constraints and or medical conditions who may need some kind of exception.

Plus you have parents who assume there are exceptions and are very keen on arguing with teachers and school.

Also doesn't stop children being met with coke cans and hugh chocolate bars at school gates - which I see a lot of.

So I can see why some of your colleagues may have reservations.

Fine by me, my kids (12&8) only drink water or milk anyway. Their choice not mine.

DS2 (4) just won't drink it. He's gone all day (12 hours) refusing it.

He also won't eat meat. will only eat carrots and no other fruit or veg. Lives on pasta, cheese sandwiches and fish fingers.

I obviously went wrong somewhere. He was ebf until 6 months, BLWeaned (ate oranges, carrot sticks and cut grapes) was fat as a house, wouldn't be fed then decided he was too busy playing and turned into a skinny, anaemic ball of energy. Drives me crackers.

So drinking sugar free, very dilute squash is very unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Totally in support of it.

I never gave my kids fruit juice and, lo and behold, they didn't shrivel up and die of thirst. They never knew it existed, so they never wanted it. Then they got some as a treat at parties and grandparents, so now they know it's a rare treat, like cake and sweets, not something you have every day.

Tooth decay and extraction is rampant amongst children. It's sickening. Something has to be done and this is a really good first step.