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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To bring a snack to school pickup?

101 replies

cadburyegg · 12/09/2019 21:45

DS1 started reception yesterday, he’s sensitive and emotional so we’ve had tears on drop off both days, so yesterday I brought some sausage rolls at pickup time because I thought he would be hungry. Yesterday he was teary at pickup and first thing he said was that he was starving and after he’d eaten he was chirpier. Well my mum came with me today and was a bit Hmm about me bringing him a snack, started talking about childhood obesity etc. For reference DS1 is very active, 30th centile and we walk/DS1 rides his bike home which takes about 20 minutes, he still eats a good amount of dinner! So AIBU to bring snacks?! Suddenly I’m doubting myself!

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 13/09/2019 00:31

They need food after school. They're starving and really low on energy. As a result they get upset and tired. I thought it had been normal to have a home time snack forever it definitely was when I was a child and I'm mid 40s.
I suspect someone doesnt fully understand what they've read about obesity and is reacting without thinking. Carry on feeding your little one. Tangerines are a real winner as they give a massive energy burst I've always found.

kateandme · 13/09/2019 00:43

common thing when we were young.and no none who did it were obese.sometimes it was a choc bar and always cereal when we got in!shreddies after school in front of cartoons.yippeee!

RosesAndRaindrops · 13/09/2019 00:46

M&S do a tub of mini sausage rolls. They're absolutely gorgeous and I think about 50 calories each. 2 of those little fuckers would be less than a bag of crisps and would tide him over until dinner

Yeah, we love those. Grin at them stopping at two of them though lol if I gave them as a snack!
How old are yours? Genuinely curious. When mine were primary eg up to 10 or 11 would have two doled out happily.
Now would inhale the entire box as just started high school

1Morewineplease · 13/09/2019 00:50

I’m with you on this... have done many a gate duty and seen some absolute horrors at hometime re family bags of Haribo , bags of ‘chicken’ dippers and even worse. Given that most primary aged children live but a few minutes walk from school I find it worrying. Many schools have a snack time at afternoon play these days. If you must bring a snack, just a little teensy one.

1FineDane · 13/09/2019 00:59

How old are yours? Genuinely curious

She's 41. I'm the fan lol.

Dillydallyingthrough · 13/09/2019 01:00

I never did take a snack with me for my DD (secondary now), we would go home and have a sit down snack like a PP. I have fond memories of us sitting at the table talking in detail of who used a crayon when she wanted to....

Even though she's 15, she still comes in and sits at the table to eat (normally crackers and cheese) and tells me now about who's going out with who...

BlackCatSleeping · 13/09/2019 01:03

Do other parents do it at your school?

I must admit, I’m of the wait until you get home club, unless you are going straight to an activity.

I think for some people, it’s really tacky to eat in the street. But, if a lot of people do it at your school, then I think it’s fine.

RosesAndRaindrops · 13/09/2019 01:04

She's 41. I'm the fan lol

Oh OK if you're both adults and there's no school kid picking up from doors dynamics, crack on, eat as many as you like grown up prerogative- Grin

letsdoit2 · 13/09/2019 13:14

My dc is an adult but I never gave her a snack after school. Never even crossed my mind! Now I'm feeling guilty!

SecretWitch · 13/09/2019 13:25

I would take popcorn and cheese for after school snack. My children were always very hungry.

Lollypalooza · 13/09/2019 13:28

I take an apple, banana, babybel or frube type yoghurt.

nonmerci · 13/09/2019 13:30

Do they still do centile at that age?

Sausage roll probably not the best choice but ok as a one off. I take a snack for mine every time I do pick up because they’re monsters without. Usually a piece of fruit or yogurt.

kateybeth79 · 13/09/2019 13:30

My kids have an after school snack, dinner then supper! DS had 4 breakfasts the other day! Both very sporty and slim so I don't care, as long as they're eating fairly healthily

nonmerci · 13/09/2019 13:31

Given that most primary aged children live but a few minutes walk from school I find it worrying

We live 1.8 miles away from the school so if I’m walking with them which I do most of the time, I don’t think I’d get away without taking a snack.

WonderWomansSpin · 13/09/2019 13:31

DS is tiny and slim. He always has a substantial snack after school.

BalanchineBallet · 13/09/2019 13:33

Definitely a snack after school- but once they get home. No one takes food to the gate here!

If I had a long walk back I might have bought a snack with me, but otherwise no. They wait until home.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 13/09/2019 13:36

I never brought a snack to pick up.
We only lived 10 minutes from Primary school so they had something when they got home.

At our school they weren't allowed to eat in the playground so they would have to eat walking down the street. I really hate eating in the street, I just never do it.

Beautiful3 · 13/09/2019 13:41

I bring my children snacks for after school. I find it helps calm them down if they've had a bad day. Their lunch boxes are healthy so no junk food. I bring crisps/mini bag of popcorn/snack a jack/ chocolate freddo with a capri sun as a treat for after school. Usually it gives them a bit of energy when walking home, if they had a bad day they usually feel better afterwards.

PinkFlowerFairy · 13/09/2019 13:43

I am actually amazed so many on MN have the snack at school /standing up/in he playground etc.

I actually thought the mn demographic would be more likely to wait the 10-20mins to get home and sit down like we do! Or if nec in the car on way to activity if not walking home.

Its more the er non mn demographic that tend to have the sweets and things in the playground at our school.

KUGA · 13/09/2019 13:50

Do what makes the little chap happy.
Ask him in the morning what he would like when he comes out later but choose something a little healthier.

SheSellSeaShells · 13/09/2019 13:54

haha mine ask for a snack before saying hello Smile when I pick them up

I'd not hear the end of how starving they are on way home otherwise (25 minute walk home)

Streamingbannersofdawn · 13/09/2019 13:59

Ha ha, this being mumsnet people will focus on the fact it's a sausage roll and he's (pearl clutch) eating while he's walking!!

Do what you feel is best for your child and ignore all comments.

My eldest is 15 now and looking back I really wish that I'd stopped giving a toss what people thought a whole lot earlier.

PinkFlowerFairy · 13/09/2019 13:59

But thats only happening because they've become conditiined to expect a snack at pick up? Its a bit of a vicious cycle if it becomes a norm in schools.

When i was teaching I always had lunch at 12 and when I stopped I was really hungry at 12 for ages. Now I can have my lunch later if Im meeting a friend at 1 etc!

MumW · 13/09/2019 14:00

I thought taking a snack of some kind was fairly standard practise. My DC were always fractious when they came out of school and a little something to raise their sugar levels did wonders for there behaviour.

Maybe she was referring to the choice of food. Nothing wrong with a sausage roll or a choccy biscuit so long as it isn't everyday and is sometimes fruit. As you say he is very active and unless there are signs of podginess creeping in I'd tell your Mum to butt out.

NoAprilFool · 13/09/2019 14:01

I always take a snack. The kids at my daughters school usually stay and play in the playground for a while unless it’s raining- and then we have a 20 minute walk - so waiting until we got home just wouldn’t work.
The days she goes to after school club they get given a snack.