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?

This is exactly the snack that all the Surestart children's centres offered at the end of their sessions while they could afford too. The snacks were designed to a) be healthy, b)provide surreptitious nutrition to children whose families couldn't or wouldn't provide it for them, and c) offer an opportunity for children to see good manners modelled by other children an adults in a communal environment.

There certainly shouldn't be crisps ! (Tea and coffees did used to get made, but they ran out of funds and it was a H&S issue :-( )

corbyns to be honest I think most of the mum's are wealthier than I am! It isn't really an 'unwealthy' area, most of the families have someone in the RAF as we're near a base.

I mean we aren't in a particularly wealthy area, but not a deprived one either.

YANBU

At our toddler group the parents/minders take turns in bringing in a snack and there is a small fee.

I was just assuming as most local authority funding has been cut and free toddler groups are now usually only available in deprived areas or targeted groups for kids with sn etc. Maybe this one is targeting forces families?

they might not be deprived but they are still grabby
Suggest they ask the people who run the group, I bet they dont

It's free and they want different free food. Entitled is the word.

It is probably part funded somewhere by the health budget so they would be wrong to give them unhealthy snacks.

If the mums want tea they could do a donation system and buy tea bags and milk. Council funding is being cut all round at the moment.

Forces families are probably more used to getting everything provided for them, institutionalised behaviour rather than entitled perhaps. Still not reasonable.

Hot drinks should not be provided at groups like this, I think sure start have a rule anyway. Health and safety thing.

sandwiches and crisps at 10.40?

they've lost it

Maybe it is targeting forces families, I'm unsure. It could well be as many families have no extended family around, and don't know anyone when they move here.

Next time someone complains, I'll suggest they bring it up with the practitioners who run the group if it bothers them that much.

I'm a sure start activity worker, hot drinks are fine. They stay in our kitchen area and the cups have lids.

We offer snack of Apple, banana,orange, cucumber, carrot and breadsticks during sessions drinks as milk or water for children, tea/coffee for adults. Often we Carcassonne seasonal fruit and veg too
The group costs 50p voluntary contribution per session. That's for two hours of play with a craft activity, focus activity and a snack.
About 60% of people pay.

Some People grumble about the cost, the lack of dairy, fats,carbs,biscuits. Meh
Some parents who can't afford the 50p often donate food when they can and bake for us every so often so the kids have a treat

Add some not Carcassonne

allthewitty I actually wish our group had a small voluntary donation, as it's such a great group with lots of activities.

Some people are never happy whatever is provided for them.

"It's free to attend"

Next time someone complains, tell them to ask for their money back.

YANBU. It's a free healthy snack.

If they want thier child to have a sandwich then why don't they bring one along themselves?

I used to help run a toddler group when DD was small and we offered similar snacks - fruit, breadsticks, rice cakes and occasionally those mini pancakes (quartered) but not sandwiches. It wouldn't be practical as you have the white bread vs brown bread vs rye bread etc issue, then the various fillings and what would be appropriate / acceptable to parents. A couple of parents brought their own snack and that was fine as it was thier choice and they child may have had dietary issues that they didn't feel the need to share. If they did the obviously we would have done our best to accommodate but the entrance fee paid for the group was small and by the time all the insurance and hall rental fees where paid there wasn't a lot left over for elaborate (various breads and fillings) or expensive snacks every week. We did also do tea and coffee for parents (and biscuits but nothing fancy - usually what ever was on special offer that week)

Crisps again where a no no but we did do them occasionally for party days (easter/Christmas/summer usually) and we also had fairy cakes etc but it was a party and not every week.

Toddler groups where I am don't provide snacks. Nothing wrong with those snacks. These ladies however seem to want a free lunch.

YANBU, these other mums should realise there's no such thing as a free lunch (that said, "in my day" it was a malted milk biscuit and a small tumbler of cheap squash).

I agree about the sandwiches; not only is it way too much for a snack, but you would need to provide white and brown bread, and about 5 different fillings to find something each child would like.

I think it's right that some people will always find something to complain about. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a cup of tea at group, but I don't feel hard done by because I can't have one.

Some people, if you gave them a gold brick, would complain it was too heavy to carry!
My mum always said that and it's true.

YANBU. Why would a toddler need a sandwich mid morning?
I can't stand people who are given something nice for nothing and just want more instead of appreciating it.

NormaSmuff Yes, children still get free fruit in reception and KS1.

I used to go to a free playgroup (children's centre) - the snack was a fruit salad we all contributed to (well we're meant to)

On special dates we do a little party spread that we would all be meant to bring food in for....

Except there was always a few grabby fuckers who NEVER brought anything and would complain about the food and how there was nothing for the adults - they expected us to cater for them!!

They would also try to steal leftovers and never help tidy up (and for this reason we stopped going)

Some people are cheeky grabby buggers!