To think it's primary school teacher's responsibility to ensure children drink during the day?

[LondonGrimmer]

Happy to be told otherwise. Child is in year 3. Frequently comes out pale, lethargic and today with stomach cramps. Transpires his full water bottle was still in his backpack so hadn't drank all day again (8.45 - 3.15) and he doesn't have a drink at lunch time either. He's an introvert who struggles with anxiety at times if that makes any difference.

Yes I have tried to explain to him the importance of staying hydrated and tell him he should try really hard to remember. I emailed the teacher last year and she said she'll try and remember to remind him (there are 23 kids in the class and one TA so I know they have their hands full).

Just frustrated and not sure if I'm being unreasonable?

YABU - your child is 7 or 8 and fully responsible for taking his water bottle out each day and remembering to drink.

YANBU - the teacher/TA should be helping more.

Children dehydrate a lot quicker then adults and can happen any time throughout the year just more likely in the summer months.

Barring strenuous exercise of long duration, a kid who is adequately hydrated at the start of a school day is not going to be dangerously dehydrated by the end of it during a British January. There's a reason we don't hear of it happening much, and the only times we do hear of it are 'on the hottest day of the year'.

Come on....take it your child doesn't have special needs. Yabu..if thirsty drink

If your child is genuinely dehydrated, it is most likely not from not drinking in school in winter. Are you giving him plenty of drinks at home?

@TragoCardboardCopper

DD is in reception and I can't rely on her to remember her drink, so I make sure I put it in her hand as she goes into the classroom. I wouldn't expect the teacher or TA to have time to check she has it and is drinking from it. In 3 years time I would definitely expect her to remember to take her bottle out her bag, or to go and get it if she forgets first thing. I am very introverted so do get the fear of being 'noticed' but surely there's oppourtunity for them to get it at break or lunch without having to ask to get it?

Even more importantly, my shyness can be crippling. It's massively detrimental in things like job interviews and meetings, making friendships, spoken exams - that kind of thing. There's being naturally introverted, which is fair enough, and then there's massively disadvantaging myself through shyness/fear. I'm definitely in the second camp and wish I'd got over it somehow when I was at school - I've no idea how, I'm afraid, or if do it for myself! But please be aware that shyness to the degree they're making themselves ill rather than putting a hand up to ask to fetch their bottle is really not good, I think I'd try to work on the cause (shyness) rather than the symptom (not drinking) if that makes sense?

Hopefully someone introverted who has tackled their shyness will be able to advise you and me

I was terribly shy at school, well into my teens. A total introvert who didn’t like to play with the other kids. Much preferred sitting alone with a book at play time.

Once I got to 16ish and began working whilst at sixth form, I began getting asked out for drinks with friends etc. I was so shy I’d have someone meet me outside the bar because I wouldn’t walk in myself, then sort of stand quietly whilst everyone talked. Then I remember reading that if you walk into pub alone, make eye contact with the bar and make your way to it confidently. Whilst there, order your drink and look for the group your meeting, then pretend you’re confident as you walk over. It went on to basically say act (as in fake being) confident until you become confident.

I don’t quite know how, but that was 16 years ago, and it has worked amazingly. My shyness does not exist any more. Without me realising, I’ve stopped having to act. I’ve always thought that I was still deep down an introvert playing successfully at pretending to be extraverted, but actually I’ve realised recently that I’m not pretending any more. I enjoy the things that I once would’ve felt really shy about. I suspect my friends complain that I talk too much now rather than sit quietly.

So anyway, this is a long winded way of saying the old adage of ‘fake it till you make it’ works for shyness.

Sorry for hijacking your thread OP, hope your son gets sorted.

I'm involved with scouts from ages 6-18
All of the kids need reminding to drink-all of them.
Every away day and camp we tell them to fill their water bottles in the morning tell them we expect it to be drunk by lunch. The younger ones needs to be constantly reminded and sometimes the older ones to.
They just don't think about it.
When they come over with a headache first thing to do is make them drink a large glass of water and let me know in 20mins if the headache is still there.

We had many battles with the school over teachers who wouldn't let kids drink during the day.

Staying healthy and the importance of good food, hydration and sleep is something that should be an ongoing theme at school

@ThirdElephant

Children dehydrate a lot quicker then adults and can happen any time throughout the year just more likely in the summer months.

Barring strenuous exercise of long duration, a kid who is adequately hydrated at the start of a school day is not going to be dangerously dehydrated by the end of it during a British January. There's a reason we don't hear of it happening much, and the only times we do hear of it are 'on the hottest day of the year'.

Thankfully no we don’t hear about it as much in winter months but more in the summer months but sadly it does happen to a few.

This is a problem that the op and the school need to resolve now before the hotter months make an appearance.

@itssarcasmjoan

I'm involved with scouts from ages 6-18 All of the kids need reminding to drink-all of them. Every away day and camp we tell them to fill their water bottles in the morning tell them we expect it to be drunk by lunch. The younger ones needs to be constantly reminded and sometimes the older ones to. They just don't think about it. When they come over with a headache first thing to do is make them drink a large glass of water and let me know in 20mins if the headache is still there.

We had many battles with the school over teachers who wouldn't let kids drink during the day.

Staying healthy and the importance of good food, hydration and sleep is something that should be an ongoing theme at school

To be fair, the NHS advice isn't to drink an arbitrary amount per day- you're just supposed to drink when you're thirsty. I'd be a bit if you were giving my kid targets on how much to drink.

Try and get him to remember prompts- for example- when he gets in from break time, after he’s been to the toilet, every time he takes his coat off.
Find out where they keep the bottles to help with prompting.
What about a new fun water bottle too?

Evidence please

I’m a year 2 teacher and I make my class collect their water bottles while they’re sat on the carpet listening to the initial input for the lesson. I make a point of getting them to drink because it improves their focus and regulation so it’s win win for me and their kidneys! 😂

@ThirdElephant outdoors 24 hrs all day being active you need to drink more.

I've been doing this for 20+ years but you give me a all you like.

Quite frankly water in a plastic bottle tastes rank, I wouldn't drink it either..unless it's fresh and cold and/or flavoured.
I don't blame children not bothering. By all means have their own cup or bottle but freshly filled not sitting in a classroom crate for hours..yuck..

@ThirdElephant

Evidence please

That was for 'Thankfully no we don’t hear about it as much in winter months but more in the summer months but sadly it does happen to a few.'

@HavfrueDenizKisi
@EarringsandLipstick, would you care to drink out of a dirty cup? I wouldn't and there's no way my child would.

My child fainted numerous times in school due to dehydration. he sometimes left his drink at breakfast time then didn't drink at all during the school day. it wasnt initially obvious why it was happening and the first time an ambulance was called. With hindsight I think he struggled with interception and genuinely didn't perceive he was thirsty. In the end I used to pack his favourite cartoon of juice which he was motivated to drink.

For some children it's not unreasonable to expect an adult reminder to drink. Admittedly ds was quite an extreme case!

Contrary to what most mums do now, kids don’t need to be sipping water every 5 minutes.
It would be preferable to drink at break and lunch really but if he won’t then
A drink before school and a drink when he comes out and he will be perfectly fine.

[quote itssarcasmjoan]@ThirdElephant outdoors 24 hrs all day being active you need to drink more.

I've been doing this for 20+ years but you give me a all you like.[/quote]
They don't need to be forced to drink. Reminded maybe, but, 'I expect xyz amount to be drunk' is unnecessary. People need different amounts of fluid.

@ThirdElephant

Evidence please

Nope

Because you think I'm wrong and don't really care what my real world experience is. It won't change your mind so why should I bother. You just want to pick a fight over me taking care of the children I'm responsible for.
I'm certainly not going to change what I do because some random on the internet says it isn't necessary.

I'm a primary school teacher and I always encourage my children to have water bottles on desks. I also encourage drinking when they have been out for interval and after lunch. But aside from that, teaching is my priority.

You allow water bottles on desks?????
Blimey.
Do you not have endless ruined pieces of work from spillages and condensation rings?
I never allow them on tables.

"If a parent asked me if their child could have their water bottle on the table I wouldn’t have a problem"

I would! See above.

"Would he be more inclined to drink squash? If he had an opaque bottle (if they’re allowed) then nobody would know."

We don't allow squash in those bottles. The inevitable spillages have led to dreadful problems with ants (in summer) and sticky messes.

Lots of harsh comments on here.

OP has already explained her DC was on the SEN register for a while so clearly maybe still has some difficulties which go above and beyond your typical 8 yr old.

No, going 7 hours without drinking won’t kill the child - but doing that daily will cause some deeply unpleasant tummy problems such as constipation. And if that becomes impacted it’s really not nice.

Not being able to identify thirst is a medical issue. Like a PP said I wouldn’t expect the teaching staff to pander to a whim such as making sure a new coat didn’t get dirty, for example. But if a child has difficulties which have the potential to cause medical problems I’d absolutely expect their support. There are lots of ways to enable the child without causing tons of extra work for the teacher.

I have two DC with SEN, one with very significant needs who ended up in special school. Luckily our teachers, TAs etc always considered education to be far more than simple academia and were amazing in supporting with life skills that my two - especially my DS - couldn’t navigate.

Child being bullied? Not an academic issue.
Child wheezy due to asthma but not having an actual attack? Won’t kill then, just ignore it.
Child has wet themselves? Not a teacher’s concern, wet trousers never hurt anyone.

See how ridiculous it is when you dismiss anything that doesn’t fall under “teaching”?! Some children need more support - and that’s part of a primary teacher’s role, difficult thought that may be at times. Luckily most primary teachers care about the all round well being of the child and not just their scores in the spelling test.

OP might be worth keeping a close eye on your DS to see if there are any other SEN which are flying under the radar. My DD was anxious and with a history of selective mutism, like your DS - and at age 10 she was diagnosed as autistic. There might be more going on with your lad. I won’t bang on with my DD’s story here but I was completely floored when she was finally tested formally. I thought she was “fine” just sensitive. All the best.

Yanbu the more I read threads like this and the crappy attitudes from other parents, the more relieved I am that I home educate.
Of course the teacher should be ensuring your child drinks enough. They are very young.

@rwalker

How did we ever survive at school without been able to have a drink except at dinner

Apparently we were all pale, lethargic, dried up husks at the end of the day. 😒

I'm confused about why he doesn't drink at lunch. Does his mean not come with a drink? You said the cups are gross, but surely the meal is served with a bottle of water it cartoon of milk is similar, isn't it?