To think that this snack is fine

[Bluebellsandsunflowers]

I take dd along to a council run baby/toddler group. It's free to attend and run by lovely trained childcare practitioners. Near the end of the group, the children are offered a small snack of apples and bananas, and either plain rice cakes, breads sticks or crackers. Dd wouldn't usually have a snack at this time as it's shortly before lunch, but I'm happy for her to join in.

I appear to be in the minority of parents who are happy with this snack. Most of the other mums think that the children should be offered things like sandwiches, crisps and biscuits. They also think that we say that we should be offered tea while the children have their snack.

I don't like using this word, but it seems very entitled to me. This is a free group that we can attend, and I'm thankful that dd can have a nice, fairly healthy snack. The mum who is most vocal about it says it isn't fair because her children won't eat any fruit, but I don't really think that's the practitioners problem.

Aibu?

YANBU. What the other mum's want is a free lunch for their child.

Ask them if they are going to provide and prepare it all

Yanbu. If they think their DC need sandwiches so badly, then maybe they should take their own.

Agree that they're wanting a free lunch.

Haha! Seriously?! It's free!!!! What part of that aren't they getting?!
The mum who's kid won't eat fruit needs to realise most places won't tolerate that (except allergies of course) and the likes of nursery will expect her child to at least try everything. I found my kids ate things they wouldn't eat at home when at nursery/school - peer pressure isn't always a bad thing!!
But yeah - entitled behaviour there from the other mums

Yanbu at all. Sandwiches and crisps at a free playgroup ? All of mine are not free (just a teeny fee). They only do biscuits and squash. It would be lovely if they did something healthier, but I'd hardly complain. It isn't a restaurant they're running.

Whaaaatttt??? The other mums are being totally unreasonable, it's free!!!!! Ungrateful gits!

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I was the unreasonable one here! I hadn't thought of it like that before - but yes, it sounds like they want a free lunch. I'm just getting fed up of this 'issue' being bought up by the other mums at least once a month.

To put it into perspective for them - the toddlers group I went to 6-7 years ago required a yearly fee (£15 or thereabouts which covered tea/coffee/juice for the wee ones/non perishable snacks) had a rota for parents, and the 2 parents on duty each week brought fresh snacks, at least a punnet of fruit, some breadsticks, rice cakes etc, and usually at least one of the parents would bring home baking in I always bought some cakes because baking isn't where my talents lie the parents on duty were responsible for setting up, laying out the snack, washing up, and tidying up afterwards.
So yeah, I'd say there's some entitlement issues here!!

what is she going to do when your offspring go to school and they get free fruit? > comlain then?

sorry her offspring

Exactly the same snacks are provided ath local children's centre. I've never heard anyone complain.

Yanbu, that's what we have at a group I go to and it's better than some others where you just get a biscuit! Sandwiches is lunch, not a snack

YANBU. It's lovely that you have the use of a free group in the first place & a free snack is obviously a very nice bonus.

DD's toddler group was £2.50 per session (although siblings were only 50p) & snack was a biscuit and cup of squash.

I agree that the parents wanting a free lunch are being incredibly cheeky - and ungrateful for what they already are being offered!

Sounds ideal to me!
Most toddler groups I've been to give the children toast or crumpets and tea and biscuits or cakes for the mums, but you pay a couple of pounds to go.

There is also a local group run by mums (that I don't like or often attend as it's a bit cliquey), that you have to pay for. At this group they give the children biscuits, sandwiches etc for snack, so they think that this should be offered at the free group too. If anything I don't really like dd having such a large snack, and prefer just a little fruit.

what time does the group finish? are the parents thinking it is lunch time?

YANBU

When I took dd to a free local ran group I was really surprised at them offering snacks. Yanbu

glitters yes I was pleasently surprised too.

The group finishes at 11, and snack is at about 10:40 ish.

trained childcare practitioners

Do you mean grandparents?

cd no like nursery nurses but obviously not in a nursery, I don't know what their 'title' is.

Sounds fine to me but could it be that the other mums are struggling financially and could do with the kids being given something more substantial? I know the Surestart centre locally to me used to do groups from 10-12 with a snack provided at the end which was similar to what yours provides but there would also be cubed/spreadable cheese, raisins etc and it was a pretty substantial cold lunch. They also gave out free fruit and veg for parents to take home. If they're offering a free funded group then I'm assuming it's not the most wealthy area so maybe them doing a little lunch for the children wouldn't be that bad an idea?

YANBU.
I wish most places I took DD that offered snacks had healthy options. They should be happy unless they've raised picky eaters because they eat a load of crap at home

10:40 would be a bit early though.

YANBU. It's free, and they're clearly trying to encourage healthy snacking - hence no crisps, etc.