Cup of tea for 12yo

[loveinanelevator]

As the title suggests is this U?

My 12yo ds is on his way home from school and it's freezing, has snowed all day. He doesn't like hot chocolate. Want to make him a nice warm drink for when he gets in.

Apologies for the most mundane question ever.

Gosh, my 11 and 12 year old have been drinking tea for quite a few years. 11 year old loves it and has a cup most days, 12 year only has it occasionally, and prefers hot choc, hot milk or a latte.

More importantly, they make their own decisions about what they drink, and make their own drinks! I can't imagine still making food/drink choices for them at this age. If they fancy a cup of tea, they'll put the kettle on and make one (and hopefully make one for me too!)

I drank tea all throughout my childhood. It's not vodka.

It's certainly been interesting to read the differing opinions, I didn't realise it would be quite so controversial

But it hasn't been controversial, everyone's just said "Of course you can. What's wrong with tea? Why are you even asking?".

???

My 3yo loves a cup of tea and a biscuit after being out in the cold.

One of life's small pleasures isn't it?

12years old is fine for a cup of tea, it only affects young children iron levels not preteens.

My boys 10 and 12 LOVE a cup of tea when they get home from school more caffeine in a bar of choc!

Isn´t the NHS advice that tannins inhibit the absorption of iron? I remember this from preganancy. It has it in the advice here.

I tend to limit my kids drinking of tea because of this but they do like the odd cup when it´s cold and dark.

The tannins can be more of an issue than the theine: if lots /strong round a mealtime, it can (in theory at least) reduce iron consumption.

But otherwise, it’s probably ‘healthier ‘ than most drinks except water. No actual nutrients; but then again, no salt, little fat, little sugar/not intrinsically sweet, relatively little caffeine or equivalent.

Many foods affect the absorption of iron.
1 cup of tea is NOT going to affect him.
I hope he enjoyed it.

I and both my siblings were weaned on tea - first thing to adulterate the bottle when we were babies - and as far back as I can remember it was assumed that we would be drinking tea whenever a pot was made. But then again we were allowed to try coffee pretty young (I think about 8-9) and would have the occasional mug of that too. I recall being surprised when my American cousin came to stay with his parents and how shocked he was that he was offered coffee when he was "only" 17!

It's certainly been interesting to read the differing opinions, I didn't realise it would be quite so controversial

What differing opinions? What controversy?

Tea is fabulous, 12 year olds can have it.

My kids like slightly cooled peppermint tea and Twinings Green Tea Salted Caramel (sounds slightly gross and wrong but is surprisingly fine on all fronts).

I had tea from toddlerhood and started drinking cappuccinos at age eight on my way to school every day. Before you ask, I'm healthy as a horse, 5"10 or so and, finished school (and most academic pursuits in general) in the top percentile. I wouldn't follow my parents' example but I doubt that tea will do any harm.

I can always remember being brought a cup of hot tea in the morning by my mum as a child (can't drink her tea now - it's far too milky). My oldest (7) turns his nose up at tea when I've tried to suggest it, but he does love hot ribeena !!

Unless you're lacing it with cocaine, I think it will be fine

It is absolutely totally acceptable, we have drunk milky tea at home since age 3 as have my children.

My dentist said the only acceptable drinks in his house are milk, (still not sparkling) water & tea (without sugar).

Mine are 20 & 21 & the 20yr old has just started drinking flavoured teas-only when feeling under the weather.

Older one not interested in hot drinks-mainly drinks water & milk!

It's not that they haven't been offered, either- just not interested in sitting with a hot drink!

I meant the controversy over my asking the question. However that was said tongue in cheek and that's difficult to convey with text so I can see why it was missed lol. It's been pretty funny to read some of the responses.

If anyone is wondering I made the tea he drank the tea, enjoyed it and since he has no homework is playing on his xbox.

I used to have coffee in my sippy cup as a baby

YABU because the only hot drink to have on a day like today is milky coffee, with skin, and five sugars.

YANBU tea is fine! If he gets a taste for it, you can always get some decaf in if you think he's getting overcaffinated.

My teenage DS doesn't like tea, hot chocolate, hot squash, or anything like that. He really likes ....hot water. (He's going to be a very cheap date when he's older.)

Can't see a problem. And he's had it anyway, so that's all good then.

But for future/as variety, would he like warm milk with sweet spices? Cinnamon, nutmeg etc. At the risk of attracting piss-takes about middle-classness, nut milks like cashew or almond give a nice nutty flavour. They can easily curdle/split if overheated though, and taste horrid, so warm them carefully!

MrsSchadenfreude me and my sister were given milky Nescafe as a bedtime drink when we were little. I don't know whether to be glad or horrified that other parents were as odd as mine!

@RhiannonOHara great suggestions thank you, he's not a milk lover but an alternative might work I'll give those a go :)