continuous access to drinks?

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

I was talking to a cm yesterday who has just been inspected and said the inspector pulled her up on the fact that drinks arent available al lthe time for the kids. In the nurseries for older kids, they have a jug with cups. Not practical with little ones though, I dont think, she suggested sports bottles lined up on the side, but how do the kids know which one is theirs? And arent we supposed to now be giving open cups to most ages?
Confused as to how to get this to work, what does everyone else do?
Mine get offered drinks at regular intervals and at meals.

For my little ones they each have their own lidded beaker, a different colour for each child. They are kept on a low table in the living room or on the edge of kitchen table within reach. They do know which one is theirs but still insist on tasting each others so I am constantly saying" no sweetie, yours is the blue one" etc. When I have after schoolers I set out enough beakers and a jug of water/squash on the kitchen table but out of reach of little ones. I have not had my first inspection yet so have yet to see if this is deemed satisfactory. If we are to encourage the use of open cups then I would only be willing to do that at the table at meal times while they are little.

OMG

you get pulled up for that - jesus - you cm really have a hard time

I have a bottle of water about for my youngest and if older 2 or 5yr want a drink they only have to ask or i offer mid morning

popperdoodles - I like your method, seems reasonable to me. The jug should be covered I believe, to stop spiders dropping in

Don't spiders add to the flavour and add natural nutrients though?

I got this as a recommendation last week, I mind two 22m olds in a morning, and inspector wanted them to have access to a jug to pour for themselves

they have their own cups, and my 3 + 4 yr olds can pour their own but come on!!

This must be the new hoop then.

It's ridiculous really isn't it! I wouldn't trust the two rising 5's to pour their own drink without spilling it, let alone the two 28 month olds and the two 14 month olds!!!

Mine all have cups with lids that are constantly accessable during the day, and all apart from the 14 month olds get open cups at meal times. If that isn't good enough that tough luck!

Right so they want a child under 2 to pour themselves a drink from a jug??? Do they want to come round and change the clothes and mop the floor afterwards! Sorry but NO WAY.

at this thread

makes me pleased im a nanny and can do what i like... my charge can (and does) ask for water at any time.... and when he does I get some water out of the tap into the cup and give it to him!

my charge is 3 and there is no way he couldt pour water from a jug witout spilling it everywhere!

yes its the open cup thing that is a bit of a nightmare, I give my 3 year old and the 23 month old open cups at the table, and they manage ok (although it does add to the work load as inevitably one or both get spilt, or poured on the table, but hey, get it down folks, thats early mark making apparently!!) I think from three, they can manage a small half full jug to pour a drink, if supervised. The thing that bugs me is really, how necessary is it that an under three is able to pour from a jug?

Who wants to hear the other action the childminder got? A bin in every room for tissues, and a seperate box of tissues for EACH MINDEE. I love it! Also got told off for putting a used tissue in her pocket, which i can understand, but can also understand how you would do this if you were feeling harassed.

you could use the spider in the jug for a "does it sink, does it float" experiment.....early science!

A separate box of tissues? What's wrong with a bog roll on the table for all to use

If you have any other crazy stuff you've heard, please add to this thread so we can all have a good laugh!

On one of my ofsteds my two littlies kept offering the ofsted inspector drinks of water, which she felt obliged to accept and drink. When the jug was nearly empty the inspector declined the next drink with relief in her voice saying "there is only a little bit left, you have it". To which the child answered "its okay .... will fill it up again". The inspector eventually left saturated.

I used kitchen roll today, was the only thing big and strong enough for the snot fest I endured from Mindee today!!!!!
But am liking the bog roll idea, might implement Bog Roll Policy.
Fine motor skills, tearing off the individual pieces? Can you tell Im trying to link obs to the eyfs this evening (and mnetting obv!)

at both those posts!!

LOL May see what happens when my continues water supply is left on table next to inspector as she taps away on her laptop...

SammyK - omg a 22 month old pouring their own water how stupid!! Do they have to ask for their cups or are they constantly full and within their reach if they want a drink?

Geraldine - A whole box for each mindee seems a bit OTT. Do you think those little individual packs for each mindee would be acceptable instead?

They probably want the toddler to be able to help themselves a to a tissue and then blow their own nose too.

What's the rationale behind the box of tissues for each mindee?

Yes I think individual packs is acceptable, apparently it is to stop cross contamination! BUT a minder friend of mine that had her inspection today mentioned the multiple tissues to the inspector and apparently she said, "That is absolutely ridiculous, no inspector should be recommending this!"

We have a covered jug and cups at our pre-school. But we also have some children who like to keep pouring water (not to drink) and it always ends up everywhere and a hazard.
We have been asking the parents to bring in beakers but they keep forgeting or say their kids don't use them.
I've been given the task to find a job lot of sports bottles for the pre-school and we will label them with the children's names.
Do any of you know where i can get lots of bottles at a good price?

asda do smart price sports bottles btw

geraldine - how about something like this much easier for little ones to use and they can't knock it over or spill it.

DS's old nursery used Fruit shoot bottles
A fact that always made me

ripeberry - are they allowed to walk around with their drinks though? if so i wouldn't be happy with sports bottles cos if they trip and fall with them it can be quite dangerous.