Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

After school snacks for the journey home

99 replies

AlternativelyWired · 06/06/2022 19:17

We live a mile and a quarter from school. It's a big step hill for a quarter of that. Sometimes we head straight up the steep bit if in a hurry or we meander through the woods and along the river or canal if it's really warm and/or we have time. Sometimes we get the bus. Ds always asks what snack I've brought with me. It could be an apple, a kitkat or similar, packet of crisps, oatcakes, satsuma, banana, whatever is to hand as I rush off to pick him up. I take one item because he'll be having his dinner about 5pm. He's 7 if that's relevant. Some of the other parents seem to take a picnic. I'm not kidding-a whole bag of food-a sandwich or breadsticks, crisps, oat biscuits, pots of fruit, chocolate biscuits and a drink. Ds has snack envy especially if I've had the nerve to bring him an apple. In the summer/if it's ever warm/hot I always take an ice cold drink as that walk home can take an hour if we take the scenic route. Other parents always offer ds something from their picnic as they seem to feel sorry for him stood at the bus stop with them STARVING 🙄 It's only if we get the bus that we witness these picnic bags. The bus journey takes 10 minutes.

What snacks do you take for your primary age dc? Do you offer them a steady stream of food and drink if they don't ask for anything?

No one seemed to have any snacks after primary school when I was there. Maybe something small when I got home but generally no.

OP posts:
breakingthebank · 06/06/2022 19:24

We've never done school gate snacks, dcs just waited until they got home and had an early dinner.

WifeMotherWorkRepeat · 06/06/2022 19:24

I have two DC and having done the school run through infants and juniors for many years I can honestly say I never once took a snack nor have I ever seen any other parents bring snacks when picking up their DC.

Wowzel · 06/06/2022 19:27

My daughter doesn't get a snack or anything until she gets home, she then has dinner at 6

TheYearOfSmallThings · 06/06/2022 19:28

I never bring a snack unless we're going somewhere straight from school and will be eating late. I definitely wouldn't be giving anything if he was eating at 5pm! We don't eat until much later because he is in teatime club until almost 6pm.

Wilkolampshade · 06/06/2022 19:29

Pretty sure no snacks for mine back in the day, but I'd check their lunchbox and there might be something left in that they could have. Luckily we didn't pass any shops either so they couldn't cadge anything. Early tea though - not unheard of to have it on the table at 4:30/5.

carefullycourageous · 06/06/2022 19:30

We had quite a long walk or bike ride home when in primary and took something like a peanut butter sandwich or oatcakes.

GiltEdges · 06/06/2022 19:31

No snacks. It's perfectly normal and healthy for children to feel hunger before their evening meal. Snack culture is driving obesity in this country.

ofwarren · 06/06/2022 19:32

Our school is a similar distance away to yours and I take my 6 and 7 year olds the same type of snacks that you do. No picnic.

Ducksurprise · 06/06/2022 19:33

You do you. I don't get these judgy posts.

Mine often had a full on picnic after school at primary, by the time we got home it was bath and bed as they were shattered.

carefullycourageous · 06/06/2022 19:34

Snack culture is driving obesity in this country
This is overly simplistic.

Ultimately overall calories vs. exercise, plus the nutritional content of a diet, is what drives obesity.

gfyito · 06/06/2022 19:35

Who made you the snack police?!

Happyplace88 · 06/06/2022 19:35

@GiltEdges agree with this 100%. Kids grazing constantly is a real problem.

WeAllHaveWings · 06/06/2022 19:35

We were around 1m from school and never did snacks. Although it was all flat/downhill so an easy walk home.

Sceptre86 · 06/06/2022 19:36

Our school is about a mile away and up a steep hill. I don't take any snacks. If its a hot day I will take my water bottle and they can have that if they've finished their own. Mine are 6 and 4. Dinner is on the table at 5pm so they get a snack once they come in if they want it.

BrutusMcDogface · 06/06/2022 19:38

My children were so, so hangry after school that it would have been borderline abusive not to feed them a large snack! 😉 They then ate their dinner at 5. They’re all very slim and fit, for what it’s worth.

Nidan2Sandan · 06/06/2022 19:39

I have never given my children snacks after school. They always wait till its dinner time.

If it's very hot they will get a drink but your child isnt going to pass out from starvation on a 60 minute stroll home.

As for other parents and their picnics, it's not really your business. Its weird, granted, but who cares.

Fizzgigg · 06/06/2022 19:39

Mine don't 'graze constantly ' but we do have 3 meals a day and 2 small snacks. One of them on weekdays is after school as my two boys are ravenous after school and dinner at 5 is a long time after school lunch at 12. They have some apple and a soreen bar or something similar (no full picnic) but they're usually hangry maniacs by 4.45 and counting the minutes to dinner as it is! Both very active and very lean

WalkerWalking · 06/06/2022 19:42

My youbger kids are hideously hungry when they get out of school (they don't particularly like the school dinners, but it's free, so tough shit essentially) It would miserable for everyone involved if I tried to make them walk home without a snack.

I tend to go for one "junk" thing (like a kit kat etc) and then one healthier if they're still grumbling (fruit/crackers/breadsticks).

Camomila · 06/06/2022 19:44

I bring a couple of cheese crackers or 2 custard creams or occasionally one of those barney bear biscuits and a bottle of cold water to after school club pick up at 5.15 (We don't go straight home, we walk to pick up DS2 from nursery)

The kids having big picnics might not be going straight home, they might be going straight on to to swimming/ballet/guitar etc.

MyCatIsInCharge · 06/06/2022 19:47

I don’t take anything but we’re only a ten minute walk away. We do have a snack as soon as we’re home, and then dinner by 1700.

I am in the minority as at least a third of the parents in DC1’s class (Year 2) turn up with full packets of biscuits and offer a snack before they’re even outside school grounds, which I find a little odd myself!

Thebeastofsleep · 06/06/2022 19:47

My kids get fed at 4.30. then supper at 7 before bed. No snack except mid morning fruit at school. So 7am, 10.30, 12.30, 4.30 and 7pm week days. But if I pick up straight from school, it's dinner at 6pm, no 4.30 or supper.

luxxlisbon · 06/06/2022 19:48

Even in the 90s I remember always being hungry after school and having a bowl of cereal when we got home.
You bring a small snack and make your kid an early dinner, some people do more food right after school and possibly eat as a family at 6:30 or later when the other partner comes home from work.
You aren’t better because you only bring an apple.
I don’t really get the point of this rant. Do what suits you and let others crack on with their own kids.

strawberry2017 · 06/06/2022 19:49

We have snacks on the way home. Usually one, sometimes 2 if we have 2 pickups to do. They have lunch so early she's usually really hungry by then. There's no harm as long as they still eat their tea.

Pennyhill22 · 06/06/2022 19:50

Mine would be hungry after school but I don't give snacks as we have a very early dinner,usually 3.30pm as we have hobbies most evenings. I would then give them supper after hobbies snd showers are done, that's usually at 8pm and they usually have toast,cereal,crackers or fruit.

luxxlisbon · 06/06/2022 19:50

To add after reading another comment, I agree these kids are likely heading out. My mum used to take sandwiches and other things along when she collected my brother as he went straight to football so was starving and missed normal dinner time.