Water in primary school

[magickingdom82]

All the children at our primary school are supposed to bring a bottle with water only to drink throughout the day. Bottles are apparently checked. However I know a tonne of parents who send their kids in with flavoured juices because their kid won't drink water but AIBU to think it isn't fair on those that do send water in. As long as the majority of parents send in water they get away with sending juice...

Not allowing adjustments for children who cannot follow rules for a variety of reasons is cuntish. Sorry not sorry. I consider those who also can’t take that into consideration to be weak parents who are failing to pass on empathy to their children.

I get your point OP - the rules are there for a reason as are others which you have mentioned - healthy snacks, black shoes etc. But I think it is the schools place to enforce them, and respectful for parents to follow.
As I have previously said I do give my child flavoured water or diluting juice, however she knows she isn't allowed it in class, but it's there if she needs for break/lunch or after school, when she is allowed it.
I certainly wouldn't complain if a teacher told her she wasn't allowed to drink it during class because I know she's not, as does she, that's the rules.

In fact, if all parents refused to accept the gradual erosion of their rights, maybe these arbitrary rules would cease to be in place.
When my child was in primary school, the list of acceptable and unacceptable foods was a complete farce (and I did run it by a dietitian colleague)- fatty, salty food OK, food which is nutritionally far better banned (think 85% cocoa chocolate- although a single finger twix fine as it contained biscuit).
Schools are run by teachers, not dietitians/ dentists...

I have always been very much a rule follower but as the mum of a child with a host of special needs that goes out the window!

As long as he drinks he can have what he wants. As long as he eats he can have what he wants.

I hate lateness but we are rarely on time for school. He doesn’t get in trouble for it either so I am sure people like the OP would complain because it’s not fair!

I send mine in with flavoured water every day. If a parent wants to argue with me, go for it. My son's hydration is more important than your hang ups.

Go and see the school if it bothers you so much. Why is the opinion of anyone on this forim going to make any difference to the view on top of your moral high horse?

You have compliant children who drink water. Go you.

It was another PP who had compared water to juice. Flavoured water often contains aspartame (linked with cancer) and citric acid both of which have a negative effect on teeth.

You say that it is about fairness and rules, rather than health, but the rule is there because of health reasons.

Whether or not you think it is fair that this rule is not policed enough, it does not change the fact that the rule is there for a reason that is beneficial for your child. You follow it because you know that drinking water is more healthy than sipping on squash all day.

It is almost like someone saying, "burglary is not policed enough, so I will burglarise my neighbour's house. It's not fair that others get away with it so I may as well do it too."
I'm using an extreme analogy to draw attention to the fact that there is merit in the rule itself.

Your child drinks water. So why does it ,alter what anyone else does ?

Matter

(I need glasses for typing on this phone!)

FGS "kids who won't drink water" - no, you mean kids whose parents let their children dictate. Lazy parenting at its best.

Everyone will drink water if they are thirsty and that is what is provided.

Kids with SN and/or sensory issues are totally different. Surely nobody would argue that.

For kids who just prefer juice, it's just unnecessary sugar or sweeteners. You can tell yourself it's nobody else's business, but you'd better be able to live with the outcome if one day it does affect your child's health. I look at the amount of sweeteners I had from a young age as a child because I was allowed sugar free squash, and I look at some of the research about artificial sweeteners, and I look at my blood sugar readings these days, and I just don't think they can be good for you.

(And as I type this, DP sends me a pic of DD guzzling a "fruit shoot". FML!!!!!!!!!)

“It’s not f a I r “ you sound like a toddler.
Your children drink water, water is healthier than juice. Be smug in knowing you’re doing the right thing for your family and move on.

I don't believe that children who won't drink water even exist. They've just never been thirsty in the presence of a glass of water.

But seriously "it's not fair" other kids bring juice!? Are you 6?

Creambun do you mean that or do you mean you missed out the disclaimer for kids with SN?

Not That it should need saying BUT I am not talking about kids with SN. Obviously SOME kids have SN that need catering for I recognise that.

It's just one of those things.

If I'm feeling nice I put in flavoured water otherwise they get water and not to mind about what other children drink.

Feeding your child is "lazy parenting" you heard it here first, folks!!

Surely 'lazy parenting' would be sending a primary aged child with fuck all to drink.

I can't get my arse in my hands about what my ds drinks - if it's squash then so be it, he has no cavities and is thin as a rake. I can't see how it can really be anyone else's business what is inside my child's flask

Applesauce.
What I was saying about people who are not experts in the field (teachers not being dietitans/ dentists) but still making decisions they are probably not qualified to make...
Aspartame and cancer risk- the nhs advice is here
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/the-truth-about-aspartame.aspx

So I will ask again magic how do you know how many children are bringing in none juice options and why that is?

And it isn’t always as simple as “sn or no sn” as often, especially in the early years of school the SN aren’t really known about but the issues will still be there

Does it really affect your life that much if some kids have juice while some have water? Mine drinks water so I put water in. Some of her friends have juice. It doesn't affect us!

OP ignore everyone saying you're silly for saying it's not fair. They're clearly the ones who send their children in with juice!

Why do you care? I send water because it’s the rules, it nearly always comes back full because he doesn’t really like water. He hasn’t dehydrated yet but I still don’t care what the other parents are putting in their kids water bottles. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

I can't get worked up about it. If some children were smashing cans of energy drink or pots of coffee then I can see a problem. Diluted squash or juice is a non issue. My dc take water to school because they will drink it. If they didn't I would send dilute.

One of mine gets juice.

The rest get water.

Weirdly they understand this. And wouldn’t swap for the other issues their sibling has. They’re not jealous.

If I got asked about it by a nosy fucking twat I’d be quick to put them in their box.