Children eating packed lunch outside?

[OldMaaa]

Is it just me or is this a bit bonkers?

My children are at Primary school.

I found out recently (from my child not via school communication) that the children who bring in packed lunches are allowed to take them outside to eat in the playground.

This first came up as my children sometimes take in soup in a thermos cup. Recently eldest child reported that their soup was kicked over before they had consumed any, so essentially missing the main portion of their lunch. After a bit of (quite confused) discussion I discovered soup was on the floor outside, which led to a conversation about why?! This is normal apparently.

I'm thinking about it again today, as I noticed child had brought home most of their sandwiches and when I asked if there was something wrong with them they said no. "They were lovely but I got distracted".

Am I mad/out of touch to be thinking that children should be sat down at tables while they're eating their lunch regardless of whether they're packed lunch or school dinners. Or is this common in other schools?

I never want to be the kind of parent who bothers the school unnecessarily, but I am considering asking them about this as I don't understand it.

But I would appreciate some other perspectives as maybe my perspective is wrong?

It's been going on at primary schools for years, most kids are fine with it. why not enjoy the summer we don't get enough of it.

I did this for any day of my childhood it was not raining. Very common in other countries. But it was controlled, everyone had to sit until a bell went.

We do it in my school (UK) but the table are taken outside.

Why would this be an issue?

At our school the children (packed lunch or school dinners) can choose to eat outside but it is still at a table. The same tables as are inside are just wheeled outside.

All that fresh air. Terrible.

I remember sitting on the field eating my packed lunch in primary school in 1992 during the summer months.

At both our schools the kids eat on the grass/ field in summer, picnic style. They love it.

how old are they, and who kicked the soup over? Had they left it down to go and play?

I think this is lovely! I would be annoyed if they weren’t allowed outside! Ps. Maybe keep soup for the colder months!

This was a huge treat at my children’s primary school - being able to eat on the school field in the summer.

You’re being weird OP 😂

Am I mad/out of touch to be thinking that children should be sat down at tables while they're eating their lunch

Haven't they got tables outside? Primary school near me has tables and benches in one part of the playground - it used to be my polling station, so I saw them when I walked through to vote.

There is not enough space in the hall according to our primary school, and the teachers don't want them in the classrooms. Packed lunch kids have to go outside to eat all through winter.

Totally normal. We’ve just purchased picnic benches for the playground for this exact reason.

I used to LOVE dinner on the field. I’m 43.

This generation of parents are bonkers.
Some things i read about on here makes me think what as the world become.

Its normal to eat outside i did it in the 80s at school.

Well lunch not being eaten/soup kicked over and spilled due to not having a proper sit down mealtime. I thought that would have been obvious from my post.

Well there we go. We never ate outside when I was at primary school in the 90s.

I have learned something new today!

Thanks all.

I am struggling to see the issue here! Our Year 6s have packed lunch outside and they love it. We have some picnic tables and benches but some choose to sit on the grass in groups. It’s all fine. It really is!

The lunch not being eaten is not the school’s fault. Your child needs to eat before playing. The soup being kicked over sounds like an unfortunate accident. Who sends soup in the summer?

You’re being weird. The kids will love eating outside.

But food can be spilled when children are sat at tables too

The answers in your first paragraph: I found out recently (from my child not via school communication) that the children who bring in packed lunches are allowed to take them outside to eat in the playground.

So they are allowed to and that is what your child has chosen. Surely the reverse is true and they could choose to eat inside but choose not to? You just need to tell them to be more careful with where they place their thermos cup and pay attention to finishing their food don't you? Not sure why it's a school issue.

The most you could do is suggest they install picnic benches... or you could tell your child that they need to eat inside until they have finished?

I'm 47 now but remember very well eating sandwiches in the playing field at primary school and secondary for that matter.

That’s an issue with your kids, not with the fact that they’re allowed outside.
Tell them not to get too distracted to eat, and not to store their flask on the ground. It’s quite simple, really.

When i was high school late 90s id get my lunch from the kitchen and piss off outside with it, most kids did.

Its not unheard of.

If they were sat down at tables/on the floor I wouldn't have queried it TBH. Not so much the lack of being indoors. I like the outdoors and we eat outside a lot at home. But we sit down to do it and don't like the kids eat and play at the same time. Eat then play. Maybe we are weird.