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.

Its a really good habit to get children into early- sets them up well for later on in life.

I agree with water only for in the classroom but think that lunch bags/boxes can have whatever drink they want in it. Ds has a flavoured water in with his lunch and a water bottle with tap water for in the class

Brilliant idea.

Obesity and tooth decay are both problems that many children face today. They don't need sugar-laden crap day in and day out.

I also think it would have a huge positive impact on behaviour at schools. Time and time again, research has shown that performance in schools leads to better outcomes in later life.

So, yes, I would totally support, and get behind, a school that implemented this policy.

Water only is fine. But I wish bullying, literacy and numeracy were policed with the same rigour.

"Just a thought that if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated."
No you're not. You're thirsty.

This is use in the health care practice that I work in, we give this to adults and children and they are regularly surprised to discover that they are not drinking enough and showing signs of dehydration as evidenced by 4 +5 on the chart.

You don't have to unconscious on the floor to be dehydrated...it is more complicated than that. Long term dehydration does lead to increased risk of illnesses such as uti.

It's our school rule I think. At least I haven't given my kids anything else and they haven't asked. Seems very sensible to me.

I'm personally all for the water only policy in schools - but I wonder if it's the policing of it that putting OP colleagues off idea.

However I have thought same as OhTheRoses when I found out my child was spending ten or fifteen minutes a day refilling everyone's water bottles despite realistically knowing it probably wouldn't have been spent on academic stuff.

We have a water-only rule in the classroom water bottles ('water bottles') and a no fizzy drink rule for packed lunch drinks, so they can have juice at lunchtime. I remember many parents moaning when my eldest DD was in reception (now Y5) about how their children wouldn't drink water, and how it was cruel, and they would sneak in flavoured water and feel very smug about it (until their child told the teacher).

I would always support a water-only policy on dental and general health grounds, with the added bonus of less mess. For those whose children don't like water - would they really not drink it even if they were really thirsty? Could it not be the case that a water-only rule could help to encourage them to like water as they see their peers drink it?

Our infant school is water only. Those that chose to have milk (paid for by the parents), then they can do so, but if you do not wish to have milk then water it is. Water is great - no stains if spilt, no extra unnecessary sugar on teeth. I can't see a problem.

I do wonder if it's a case of children craving sugar rather than not liking water? Ie. kids want to have squash and fizzies because they are already pretty addicted to the sweet stuff.

Water, to me, is pretty tasteless.

Great idea!

Drinking water is such a good habit to get into.

Water all the way at our school also. I am in complete agreement unless there is an issue of some sort and the child will only have diluted squash or something.

But, I am lucky... DS is asd but only drinks water. He retches and vomits with anything else, even milk. If a child had the same issue but only when drinking water I would hope the school would be flexible enough to make an exception there.

I don't think any of the DC in our extended family know there's a choice They've had water with packed lunches every single day.

Non water drinking DS2 has very dilute sugar free squash and has perfect teeth and is skinny as a rake. So it's not all a sugar craving thing. I personally loathe water in any form so maybe it's a genetic thing!

He is dehydrated after nursery according to Idefix's chart, and I'd rather have toxins cleared from his system and well functioning kidneys rather than stress about a few teaspoons of squash per day.

I do agree with schools having a policy regarding drinks and snacks but not all children are water drinkers so a little leeway would be appreciated. I cheat anyway.

its a great idea, why would it not be?

Although I think if a child doesn't drink water then squash should be allowed

are there children that done drink water!!!!!

There are many posts suggesting that it's either water or sugary crap. Sugar free drinks exist and I think it's up to parents whether to believe the bollocks about artificial sweeteners.

I think water for classrooms - other drinks may make a mess. But parents should get to make the decision about drinks in packed lunchs within reason. I think banning fizzy drinks because of the risk of them making a mess is completely reasonable.

And sugar free squash is the wrong track, is it?

Yes, if you're happy for your child to develop a seriously sweet tooth and drink shitloads of a aspartame.

I hate it because nothing is kept cool. She brings her water bottle out of school and its warm! Rank!

Sugar free drinks are bad for the teeth and can decay and weak enamel.

On the water bottles getting mucky thing: my DS is an inveterate loser of things. We usually buy a bottle of water and he then reuses the same bottle for a few weeks/a month or so until he loses it. It's clear plastic so easy to see if it's clean, he rinses it out every day, and it's cheap. (I don't buy bottled water for the water, IYSWIM, but for the bottle, and while it's not environmentally ideal, I figure it's environmentally marginally better than replacing a thick plastic "permanent" bottle every so often as he'd just lose that, too.) He refills it with tap at home, or at the water fountain in school during the day. Because it's clear, he is also allowed to take it with him into exams.

The water that comes out of the water fountains is nice and cold and fresh, so that's not a problem. In very hot weather I have also been known to half-fill his water bottle and put it in the freezer overnight, and then top it up in the morning with tap before he puts it in his bag. The ice slowly melting keeps the whole thing lovely and cool.

I don't blame the kids that don't like water, it's vile and even worse when warm!

I am always wondering why parents start giving children squash/fruit juice from a young age. Surely if you only give them milk and then water from 1yo you don't end up with DC who "don't like water"
Of course the first time you give water to a baby who only knows milk they don't necessarily like it, but that is not a reason to switch to sugary drinks then. Of course they will prefer the sweet tase.
I really don't understand...

Mine is only allowed water or flavoured water. I send in half flavoured/half plain because if I send just plain water the whole bottle comes back!

I use an insulated bottle and put cold water in it. In the summer I add ice blocks. I hae often drunk from it on the school run home and it has kept fairly fresh. One like this but not as expensive. (It came as a freebie at some event we did and we have been using it ever since!). ;

www.amazon.co.uk/YOUR-Bottle-SHO-Insulated-Stainless/dp/B018GUHNRI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490961913&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=steel+water+bottle&psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21