To think that children aged 3 & 4 sholdn't be eating food unattended at school

[Pennies]

DDs (aged 3 & 4) go to a preschool which is attached to a main school. We are asked to provide fruit for them for their break time. I've just learned that the children sit and have their milk and are then let into the playground, which has access to wooded areas where they can be out of sight from staff, with their fruit pots (provided by parents, consisting of what ever fruit, in whatever form their children prefer, inc. grapes, whole apples, olives, carrots etc).

So, what if one of them chokes?

I posed this question to the teacher today and was told "we've done it this way for years".

AIBU to think that this is a risk they should not be taking?

I've always taught my ds (4.5) that he has to sit down to eat. I wouldn't let him wander around home eating an apple so why should he be allowed to do it at school? Fine to be sitting and eating in a wooded area but if they are not supervised and told to sit down whilst eating then yanbu.

Ha I'm the same mehgalegs! Grapes, apples and sausages....I shudder just thinking about it!

I definitely think the picnic style fruit time is the way to go Pennies!

see, I never have actually got the worry over grapes.

I seriously cannot understand why people panic. honestly. bemuses me completely.

there is only ever one food that worries me for a choking risk, and that is lolly pops while running!!

oh hurrah, we're all mates

ok,copy this thread to the nursery and let us know what happens

I think I'd prefer my 4 year old to sit still while eating but not from a supervised/not point of view, more from a spillage/falling over then putting muddy hands over food type of standpoint. Also with a mouthful of food if someone does trip over, gagging or choking on it is probably more likely.
Or bump into something while distracted.

Besides, we were always taught that you don't eat in the street, eat nicely etc etc, it goes against the grain a bit to imagine ds charging around while eating his snacks...

So yes, YANBU I think they shouldn't be running about with food.

oh, and while I am on a nice side............

could be worse...........

they could be running about eating sausage rolls and swigging fruit shoots!!

Grapes are the same size as a small child's wind pipe (approximately). It can get stuck if they swallow it whole.

Given me goosebumps just thinking about it!

As if school would let them psychomum!! I got told off for putting a chocolate mini roll in DS's lunchbox last week! Bad mum of the week lol

A child choked on bonfire night on a lolly, we were in a friend's garden, it was dark, we were all watching fireworks. She was silently gripping the 11 year old girl next to her by the arm.. The 11 year old shouted that something was wrong and the choking girl's Grandpa did the heimlich manouvre on her, it shot out first time, terrifying. All lollypops quicjkly confiscated from other kids.

I think my children must have supersize wind pipes then. they inhale grapes (I really do think they do, considering how quickly the disappear), and none of mine have choked on grapes.

only one of mine has ever choked badly enough to need 999 actually, and that was DS2 biting a plastic spoon which broke in his mouth. and I was feeding him, so completely supevised too.......never prevented him from choking.

makes for good reasons for BLW tho

meghalegs!

Havent read the whole thread but I would be very much more concerned that they were in "woods out of sight" of the staff? At age 3 or 4. Are you serious?

I'm sure you all right about the risks. I just find it so hard to take it seriously. I will try harder to be more scared.

Nursery sounds lovely.

Orm - i think our reaction depends on experience though, and also the age of our children. DS1, 2 and 3 all had the occasional gag when weaning, nothing that a small slap on the back wouldn't sort out and I never really worried but seeing DS4 silently gagging, eyes bulging and then flopping in my lap scared the bejeezuz out of me and I shall always be a scaredy when it to any risk of choking.

"I would be very much more concerned that they were in "woods out of sight" of the staff? At age 3 or 4."

Oh I understand now! It's the bears you worried about!

Could you maybe suggest that they eat their fruit inside whilst sitting and then take their carton of milk outside? Why do you provide the fruit? Are the school not receiving free fruit?

Bears are attracted to fruit after all.

lol @ the bears being the problem now

YABU, 3 year olds are perfectly capable of feeding themselves without constant supervision. What helicopter parenting!

But what about the bears in the woods?

bears are a worry, of course, but the children could defend themselves by chucking bits of fruit at them.