Getting DS onto tea and coffee

[spanieleyes22]

Just wondering how did you start your dc on tea or coffee. DS refuses to try either ! It doesn't matter but I feel bad for him that he never has a hot drink . Maybe I didn't push it on him early enough . DD used to spend time at my parents and she always wanted tea if they had it so they'd give her a weak milky cup. I think she started on mochas and gradually started to like coffee

How old is ds? I cannot see why you would do it either. My dgks 13,14, hate hot drinks..

I don't drink tea or coffee nor does my youngest ( adult) son, my eldest has one very occasionally. None of us feel like we should!

Why?
If they don't like it/want to try it there are loads of other options.

What a strange thing to worry about
'Should have pushed it on him earlier' - you know tea and coffee aren't compulsory right ?

My son is 21 and has never tried either, he's surprisingly surviving quite well without them

Why does he need to drink it? DD is 16 and only drinks hot chocolate and only when out.

I hate tea' can't stand the smell or taste of it, so only drink coffee and only 2 in the morning. My choice. I can't imagine anyone being ridiculous enough to judge anyone for that.

Just leave him alone. Tea and coffee aren't necessary for health.

I have loathed all hot drinks my entire life. Fortunately so does my Mum, so she never cared.

I had an outdoor pursuits guy once try to force me to drink tea because it was "essential" due to the cold weather. I was very unimpressed. I have never had a problem in cold temperatures without (and I've experienced - 20 degrees).

People at uni seemed incredulous too. But it's normal to me. I hate alcohol too, so I just drink water and fruit juice. I am happy.

To the OP, if he doesn’t like them don’t bother. You can’t make someone like something and they’re not essential. I didn’t like hot drinks as a child but office culture eventually meant I ended up liking both.

For those worrying about caffeine, my son has had tea since quite small, just decaf with milk no sugar. Don’t think it’s especially unhealthy tbh as long as no sugar added! Oldest daughter likes the assorted trendy coffees from coffee shops now which I do think are bad and nothing to do with me! (For balance, Middle daughter does not do hot drinks, which is fine!)

Is this a serious thread? You are worried because your son won't drink coffee or tea? Are you going to start worrying soon if he refuses to have a smoke of a cigarette? Or a glass of vodka?!

My sons used to like tea with breakfast from around age five, then went to coffee in their teens - now adults they drink either, mainly coffee.

DGS(19) never has hot drinks, and never did when younger; DGD(15) has the odd cup of tea.

I don't think you should be pushing him to have tea or coffee. He's better off not getting addicted to caffeine. Tea and coffee stain teeth so better not to be encouraging it at all. If he wants to drink it later, fine, but there's no need for it.

Imagine worrying about this. There are other hot drinks.

Why does he have to like tea or coffee ?

Why are you pushing anything on a child? So weird. You don't both have to have a hot drink together you know!

YABU

There is no rule one has to like:love tea or coffee. Doubtful most health professionals would advise pushing such things on a child!

Tea actually inhibits the absorption of iron and can lead to anemia in some. Caffeine is also not good either or healthy for children and teens in certain amounts.

Dear god. The comments on this thread are so judgy 🙄 All the OP asked is when people normally introduce their kids to tea or coffee and she’s been descended on and accused of stressing over it. She just asked a simple question. That hardly means she’s obsessing over it 😂

Our eldest started enquiring about tea around age 8, tried it, didn't like it. Then started asking again aged 10 and decided they did like it and now have a cup in the mornings watching TV in bed at the weekend aged 11. We make it pretty weak and milky. 9 year old tried it and decided it was disgusting and never wants to try it again!

Pretty sure I was being given cups of tea daily by the time I was 5 around 40 years ago

There's been half a dozen threads started this week about not drinking tea or coffee. It's bizarre! Why is it suddenly such an issue?

OP literally says she feels bad she didn't push it on him (ie force him). That's very weird behaviour.

I'm 47 and never have a hot drink as I don't like them. One of my DC drinks tea and frozen coffee, the other two are also not interested.

it's not like they are a necessary part of life, and they are not good for you.

Unsweetened tea in moderation is good for you. And coffee has benefits too

We were given tea in the kindergarden in exUSSR where I spent my childhood. We also had tea at home, so for me it's THE drink. I never learnt to like coffee no matter how much my DH does it or shares when we go to a café. I can tolerate it with sugar. So it's about the taste. I just don't understand coffee and I'm in my 40s. My DH is from Cuba and they had milk with coffee as kids.

I offered tea to my kids from my own mug and sometimes they try.
My 7 year old discovered that he likes jasmin green (where I add some mint for digestion). I don't give him much of black tea. I also give him camomile, but present it as something he should drink when he has stomach issues or before sleep. He takes just a little bit in an espresso mug.
My step-daughter (who doesn't come from a tea environment with her mother), likes my fruit flavoured teas which she sweetens with caramel flavoured stevia (the latest thing she found in my cupboard).
My teenage son is not difficult and tries different ones, but is not a big drinker. He does ask for mint or camomile when he has digestion problems.
Basically for each of them, it's a different experience.

Several people mention that tea is not good, but suggest hot chocolate. How is that better?