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. That's a very substantial snack imo. What the parents seem to be wanting is a lunch. If sandwiches etc were offered then to me that would be a lunch. If it's a snack that's on offer then fruit/rice cakes etc is fine.

I can't stand people who are given something nice for nothing and just want more instead of appreciating it

Same here, I'd have to say something.Next time graspymum spouts on about wanting more, laugh at her, a loud long laugh and say wow, the < insert council or whoever funds it> provided these rooms, for supplies trained staff and a healthy snack for the children ALL FOR FREE and you think they should

YANBU. They are being very U.

The snack is a bonus in a FREE group (as you say).

People tend to forget that food has to be paid for, and that someone has to prepare, serve and wash-up afterwards, as well as wiping down tables and cleaning floors - we all know how much mess a small child can make even with a single rich tea biscuit. And tea/coffee for the mams? Some poor soul has to faff about boiling kettles, making sure that there is sufficient tea, coffee, milk, sugar, sweetener etc. And then there is sure to be someone whose child can't won't eat particular foodstuffs, the kid with allergies - once this starts it can snowball if the group is as entitled as some of these mothers seem to be,

It also causes safety issues when there is hot liquid around toddlers, and environmental health ones around the providing and serving of food, especially food that requires even minimal preparation, such as sandwiches - preparation areas have to be regularly inspected, etc and food hygiene certificates obtained. It's a faff, can be expensive and is time-consuming.

If these mothers think their children need a lunch, then they should provide a packed lunch for them - or perhaps offer to provide food for the group (they could take turns) and make sure that they take their rubbish away with them. They could take themselves a flask.

I'm totally on your side here OP. It is a free group - be grateful for it, as many areas don't have free anything. If a child won't eat fruit (which is pretty unusual - maybe the mother should look at what she is offering at home), then they have their rice cake or whatever.

The foods on offer seem to be the ones least likely to cause stomach upsets, allergies, or be eaten from greed rather than genuine hunger. If you are able, perhaps remind them that this isn't a party - it is a playgroup and if they want more they should go somewhere else and pay for the extras (diplomatically, obviously - not the way I have put it ).

The likelihood is that the group facility will be ended if they demand too much and it starts to cost a lot of money.

Wow. Have they never heard the phrase, "There's no such thing as a free lunch"?
Our council playgroup charges £1 and provides water, fruit and sometimes bread sticks or crackers, I thought that was pretty good! It would never occur to me to demand more, what's wrong with some people?!

Exactly. I don't know who exactly they are expecting to pay for this snack aka lunch.

I just roll my eyes.

YANBU. Can't stand entitled twats like this. They'll be the people who let their children impose on neighbours families at teatime regularly but send other kids home when they make tea IF they're even allowed to play in their homes at all