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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is PC gone mad?

268 replies

Frasersmum123 · 12/03/2009 19:01

DS is 8 on Saturday and I have bough him some sweets to give out to his friends tomorrow. He has done this every year so far without a problem.

Today his teacher came to see me in the playground and told me that he wasnt allowed to give out the sweets, as the school cant condone giving them out and that it goes against their healthy eating policy

Surely a fun-size bag of Haribo isnt going to hurt anyone? Its not like its done every day!

OP posts:
Hobnobfanatic · 12/03/2009 19:24

Our school doesn't give them to kids - but puts them in the bookbags so parents can decide whether to give them or not. That way, the school isn't condoning unhealthy snacks, and parental choice isn't being violated. Sensible policy to me,.

onagar · 12/03/2009 19:25

They should concentrate on teaching and stop intruding, but it won't happen because it's the fashion now to make laws and regulation on every little thing.

Nothing evil about sweets anyway. Not if they brush regularly and run about a lot. Not so good for adults sitting around all day

belgo · 12/03/2009 19:28

I really don't understand why everone loves haribos. Much overrated imo. I preferred the sweets of my childhood, full of e-numbers and acids but they were lush.

On that basis YABU.

Stretch · 12/03/2009 19:29

Our school lets the children hand them out at the end of the day. In full view of the parents.

DD1 is 7 next week and I'm letting her take some sweets in for her birthday. She takes a few in for her teachers too!

DandyLioness · 12/03/2009 19:30

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poopscoop · 12/03/2009 19:31

i have absolutely no issue with handing out or receiving of sweets for childrens birthdays. Nobody is going to die from it. We are not talking about peanuts, just a few sweets to celebrate. Party poopers all those who are against. Did you not enjoy sweets as a child?

DandyLioness · 12/03/2009 19:32

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Original poster
Frasersmum123 · 12/03/2009 19:34

I think children should be taught that everything in moderation is okay, otherwise they will become a bunch of whiney do-gooders who feel like they have to restrict everything that everyone else does.

OP posts:
Original poster
Frasersmum123 · 12/03/2009 19:35

poopscoop - I agree

OP posts:
LittleMissBliss · 12/03/2009 19:35

Would they let you hand out small home made fairy cakes? With just a little dollop of icing maybe?

You could try on the basis that they have
protien (eggs)
Calcium (butter)
Carbs (sustainabale energy (flour)

But i can understand the teacher not wanting sweets as there must be a birthday every/every other week.

DandyLioness · 12/03/2009 19:35

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PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 12/03/2009 19:36

jelly sweets can't be eaten by some children because of the gelatine.

When I left working as an LSA is a school, I did a huge platter of different seasonal fruit for each table in the classroom. It went down very well - maybe you could do the same?

RubberDuck · 12/03/2009 19:36

Our school saves them up and hands them out in book bags on a Friday, so it's not every day and gives the parents a chance to ration as required, which I think is a fair compromise position.

And it does seem to have reduced the quantity which is nice, as less people feel under pressure to provide sweets on their kids birthday.

poopscoop · 12/03/2009 19:37

The schools which adopt the healthy eating whatsit, are the same schools which have year 1,2,3,4,5 cake sales all the time. And those cakes are topped with smarties or jelly sweets or choc. But that is fundraising so the healthy eating goes out the window does it

troutpout · 12/03/2009 19:38

the phrase is 'pc gorn mad'
get it right

Original poster
Frasersmum123 · 12/03/2009 19:40

Poopscoop - you are right. Next Friday is a non-school uniform da and instead of the usual £1, the school have asked the children to bring in sweets and chocolate which can be used for prizes at PTA events.

OP posts:
poopscoop · 12/03/2009 19:42

absolutely frasersmum!

Sidge · 12/03/2009 19:45

I'm quite glad that schools aren't allowing children to hand out sweets - my DD can't have them so I don't have a problem with them not being given out. If you want to make up little sweet bags for him to give to his friends at going-home time then that's different as the parents can have some control over when and where they eat them (unless the child walks home alone!)

oopsagain · 12/03/2009 19:52

NO THANKS. i DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO HAVE ANY.
GOOD ON YOUR SCHOOL

oopsagain · 12/03/2009 20:14

lol att his topic.
Last week there were a bunch of threads about people NOT wanting their kids to have sweets/junk given out by other parents.
a heated debate ensued, but most people said that it was the right of the sweet giver outer to do so.

Am very interested by the fact that this thread seems to say that the school is correct in asking not to give out sweets.

Interesting- but not sure waht that means IYSWIM

but fwiw, i would orefer my kids to eat what I want them to eat, and no gelatine, thnaks for asking. (oh, but you didn't- you just handed them out )

ChippingIn · 12/03/2009 20:15

Frasersmum123 - I actually think it's quite nice for the kids to get some sweets on another childs birthday, there are 13 kids in LO's class, so 13x a year isn't going to kill her (not even if there were 30 in the class).

However, I really object to your rudeness about the teachers weight. For starters she is simply enforcing school policy (she may not even personally agree with it) and do you know why she is overweight? Not all of us that are overweight live on sweets or don't know how to eat well you know and not all skinny people are healthy. It would you well to be better informed and less judgemental.

Pitchounette · 12/03/2009 20:16

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LynetteScavo · 12/03/2009 20:20

Yeah, everything in moderation is OK. I let my 5yo drink Budwiser, but only half a bottle, and only on Friday nights.

Handing out Haribo is a bit unfair on vegataian children, IMO.

pacinofan · 12/03/2009 20:24

DD's school regularly sends out 'no sweets in school' memos and then when I collect her, she comes out with sweets for so-and-so's birthday!

I have bitten my lip, but was v cheesed off last week when she came out with a HUGE tube of smarties. She scoffed the lot and we had awful tantrums thereafter. If we didn't already have issues with the school this is something I would mention, personally I am sick and tired of her coming home with c**p.

southeastastra · 12/03/2009 20:35

when it's my son's turn i'll send him in with a bunch of grapes for each child