To be irked that teacher wouldn’t open 6-year-old’s water bottle at school?

[Tabletoppp]

Just that really. 6-year-old came home very thirsty and said he has a headache. I took his water bottle out his bag and said, “oh you didn’t drink anything?”

He said he couldn’t get the cap off (It wasn’t on that tight, but oh well!), and that he asked his his teacher to help and she said no, she can’t touch his water bottle because of Covid.

So all day he drank no water.

Aibu that she should have helped him and then just washed her hands?!

f it happened like that then she was being unreasonable but I’d imagine it was something that got lost in translation unless this teacher has a history of being awkward. For example, maybe she said to the class, “You have to be in charge of opening, refilling and closing your own water bottles because of the virus,” rather than your DS specifically asking if she would open his bottle because he couldn’t get it open.

Good point.

She could have given him a glass of water. That is shameful. To not have access to water all day. I would complain.

@OwlBeThere

As a kid we weren’t even allowed a drink at school other then lunch time, and yet somehow we all survived. One day isn’t going to kill him/her.

Same here I once had water at school as I was recovering from tonsillitis and my throat was sore and dry.

My 6 year old’s teacher re-plaited one of her bunches for her yesterday. honestly? She shouldn’t have. It’s quite clearly against guidance and most school rules.

Teachers are complaining they don’t feel safe and then do that.

He probably asked once and she said she couldn't open It for him and sent him off to try again. I am guessing he didn't ask again and she assumed he had managed to get it open. Just chalk it up to experience and send him with a different bottle tomorrow.

I can't believe you sent him in with a bottle that he can't open himself, therein lies the main issue.

Not dissimilar to sending in a child who is still in nappies to reception imho.

He didn’t have another drink as we have to take in packed lunches (although the school does provide them for those who want - another thing that was annoying as I think they come with water bottles - she could have given him one from a spare, maybe?!).

This was his only drink. It’s quite a big bottle, so enough for a day - but I had thought they’d be allowed to refill through the day, too, but maybe they’re not.

So he drank nothing until 3:30

Knowing him, though, he won’t have said another word about it. And he won’t have asked any TAs or friends etc (he’s very shy). He only told me because I queried why he hadn’t drunk any and was so thirsty.

His teacher may not have realised it was his only drink?

@HandfulofDust

As a kid we weren’t even allowed a drink at school other then lunch time, and yet somehow we all survived. One day isn’t going to kill him/her.

I bet you're remembering incorrectly. Or if not your school was unusual. Not drinking all day is very detrimental to the health. Imagine being at work and not being allowed a drink of water. I do think she could have opened his water bottle for him. My son drank his on the way in the other day (I didn't realise the place they normally fill their water isn't available any more). His teacher filled it up for him.

I left school 50 years ago. We had water with lunch and the dreaded warm milk at break. Don’t think I ever took a water bottle at school. My daughter left school 15 years ago - they were not allowed to carry water bottles at school

You do need to send him in with a water bottle he can open though

My five year old can't open any water bottle.

DD was assigned a group of YR children (keyworkers' children) in lockdown. On Day 1, it was threatening to rain at playtime so they got their coats on. None of them could manage their zips. Bang went social distancing. 🤷🏼‍♀️

At lunchtime they had packed lunches from the school kitchen with each item presented inside a knotted plastic bag. 🤦🏼‍♀️

When our Reception kids went back in June, school sent a flurry of messages to parents about ensuring the children weren't sent to school with bottles they conventions by themselves. I doubt complaining would get you anywhere - you'd be complaining to the Head who told the teaching staff to do this. How do you think the late August born kids new into Reception are managing with this magnificent rule?

I'd be kicking off at every teacher in my way if that was my DS. It's just cruel

Too much hard work for a grown adult to grab a tissue and use it to cover the lid whilst she opens it. Not very child friendly is she ?

We asked the parents in August to practice with their child opening all parts of their lunch box.so I would have opened it today but I would have sent you an email to say either change the bottle tomorrow or ensure he can open it.
We also don't give out spoons or cups anymore( because we don't have any, staff now bring their own) so two kids today couldn't eat their yoghurt. Parents have been told this also.
To be honest the amount of guidelines that have made my job much more difficult ( lunch break halved, sterilising toys after school, wearing a visor all day etc) means I will stick with all the guidelines not just the ones you think I should break.

Yeah that sounds ridiculous - just do it, wash and sanitise

@ApolloandDaphne

He probably asked once and she said she couldn't open It for him and sent him off to try again. I am guessing he didn't ask again and she assumed he had managed to get it open. Just chalk it up to experience and send him with a different bottle tomorrow.

I’m hoping this is what happened!

Yes of course she should have helped him. Yesterday a young boy came out of the school gate, and dropped his jacket in the road. I stepped in, picked it up and handed it to him. So that he didn't run back in the road again. His parent was waiting for him down the road. I wouldnt stop helping people just because of this pandemic. I bet your child was so thirsty, bless him.

@TantricTwist

I can't believe you sent him in with a bottle that he can't open himself, therein lies the main issue.

Not dissimilar to sending in a child who is still in nappies to reception imho.

Maybe read the full thread before posting

OP, not saying at all that your child has lied but children do sometimes see things very differently and sometimes worry about things so much that they get mixed up between imagination and reality.
A child in my class went home yesterday and told their mum that I didn't let them have a drink all day and they'd forgotten their bottle. I'd said 'that's tough!' apparently.
I offered the child a sanitised plastic cup, the child said thanks and went off to the water. Little did I know that the child didn't want to use it and had just pretended to drink. Child didn't want to be in trouble with mum for not drinking so made it up.

As a teacher this sort of thing happens all the time and can be really upsetting. Much better to speak to the teacher to get the full story.

@switswoo81

We asked the parents in August to practice with their child opening all parts of their lunch box.so I would have opened it today but I would have sent you an email to say either change the bottle tomorrow or ensure he can open it. We also don't give out spoons or cups anymore( because we don't have any, staff now bring their own) so two kids today couldn't eat their yoghurt. Parents have been told this also. To be honest the amount of guidelines that have made my job much more difficult ( lunch break halved, sterilising toys after school, wearing a visor all day etc) means I will stick with all the guidelines not just the ones you think I should break.

I would have appreciated that - and an email telling me. I feel pretty guilty that he couldn’t open it (he usually can), but that’s my mistake and if she’d emailed me I would have apologised and fixed it.

It seems clear to me that she meant “we’re not supposed to, have a go yourself”, fully expecting a child to be able to speak up and ask if they really couldn’t do it - children have been with parents 24/7 for months on end and some might have got used to being waited on hand and foot! Yes he’s shy and wouldn’t say anything - but she’s known him a week and wouldn’t know that. Most children would just ask again or ask someone else.

@HandfulofDust

As a kid we weren’t even allowed a drink at school other then lunch time, and yet somehow we all survived. One day isn’t going to kill him/her.

I bet you're remembering incorrectly. Or if not your school was unusual. Not drinking all day is very detrimental to the health. Imagine being at work and not being allowed a drink of water. I do think she could have opened his water bottle for him. My son drank his on the way in the other day (I didn't realise the place they normally fill their water isn't available any more). His teacher filled it up for him.

I was at Primary School in the 70s and we managed to get through a 9am - 4pm school day without constantly drinking water. We had water to drink at dinner time - tap water in a jug which we poured into glasses. We were not allowed to drink from bottles, and the whole notion of bottled water was alien to us at then.

Sorry but i think the teacher was right, schools say they must be able to open them their self and its not the case of just washing her hands, if she has 30 kids in a class all want a drink say 3 times a day, she would have to wash her hands and sanitize over 100 times in a day which is crazy she would have no skin left, do what most parents do make sure there kids can open there own things and dressed ect

I’d have a chat with her firstly you be sure what you think happened did happen but also so she knows you follow up on things as they happen rather than letting them drift.