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Original poster

Parents "sneaking" pop into water bottles - opinions please?

334 replies

Bozza · 15/09/2005 10:47

DS has just started reception and they have a policy that all the children are allowed to take in a bottle of water which are kept on a tray and they are allowed to help themselves as and when. Think this sort of idea is becoming pretty common. So I went out and bought DS a nice new Star Wars bottle to take it in and he was quite happy.

However loads of the parents are complaining and saying their kids won't drink water. Some of them have started sending in flavoured water and ribena. One even sent diet coke. I'm a bit peeved about this because DS knows they are only allowed water but that some of the others are taking these things. I know its only a small thing but I do think it is giving the kids the message that its OK to undermine the teacher and I think that its the start of the discipline problems that afflict lots of schools - the sort of thing that HMB describes very eloquently. What do you think?

OP posts:
Prettybird · 15/09/2005 14:26

Oops - should have previewed. Link is here

Ladymuck · 15/09/2005 14:27

LOL at this. Ds1's school had all the reception class parents in for a school meeting last week to discuss curriculum etc. On the agenda was a talk from the head on what can and cannot come into school (we're a "water only" school!). They had noticed some children bringing in flavoured water, and were warning us that from Monday this would not be tolerated, and the bottles would be emptied and refilled with water as it wasn't fair to the other boys in the class who had stuck to the rule. The head pointed out that we would be letting our children down if we gave them the wrong "water" to bring in.

Again school dinners are compulsary (they provide sandwich lunches too), and the school is very good at catering for allergies etc. They do point out that they don't have anyone allergic to water, but if we feel that our child suffers from rabies could we kindly not bring them to school.

So that was all of us told. We're waiting to see which parent gets detention first!

hunkermunker · 15/09/2005 14:29

What happens if we don't drink enough?

Dehydration isn't to be recommended, as our presenter found out.

When he went without water for a weekend, Richard Hammond found his:

Concentration suffered

Reaction rates slowed

Physical stamina significantly reduced

Even mild dehydration will affect the body and mind - headaches, lethargy and tiredness are all common symptoms.

From Wordgirl's link - think it agrees with me, really

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 14:30

Love the rabies comment!

zippitippitoes · 15/09/2005 14:31

private schools have no problems barking out orders to parents

they are far less tolerant of rule breakers than state schools i think

hunkermunker · 15/09/2005 14:31

Rabid children definitely shouldn't be encouraged at school.

PMSL!

wordgirl · 15/09/2005 14:32

Yes, but it goes on to say that we don't need to drink eight glasses of water a day because of the amount of water contained in food (70% in a baked potato!) so as long as you drink when you're thirsty and eat normally I should think you'll be ok. Oh and luckily for me tea and coffee count towards your fluid intake too

stitch · 15/09/2005 14:33

ii grew up in the middle of the desert. and dont count any drinks as fluid except for water.
so you cant say you have had lots of fluid if it just means that you have had ten cups of coffee today.

wordgirl · 15/09/2005 14:34

You can if you're not in the desert

zippitippitoes · 15/09/2005 14:34

I thought being thirsty was an indicator of dehydration so you should drink before you're thirsty

Ladymuck · 15/09/2005 14:36

Zippi - agree that discipline is often more strictly enforced at private schools. I think that the main difference is that there is a consequence at a private school - you can be asked to remove your child. State schools appear to have fewer options available for dealing with those parents who disagree with the rules.

vickiyumyum · 15/09/2005 14:38

my ds always calimed he didn't like water, but i still sent a bottle in with him everyday and its surprising how once they see everyone else drinking it they start to drink it too. he now only drinks water in the day and milk before bed time.

beatie · 15/09/2005 14:42

Ladymuck - it can work both ways with the private schools. Some parents seem to think that because they are paying they can also write the rules.

handlemecarefully · 15/09/2005 14:44

I've read none of the thread other than the opening post, but I have to admit who do the school think they are dictating what children can drink!

I accept that children should observe school rules and that parents should reinforce these - where teose rules are reasonable, but frankly I think the school has overstepped the mark by setting this particular rule which I don't consider 'legitimate'. I wouldn't be undermining it by stealth however, I'd be tackling it head on with the head teacher and telling him / her that my child will drink what I give him / her

handlemecarefully · 15/09/2005 14:45

these rules!

beatie · 15/09/2005 14:48

The school aren't dictating what a child can drink. The children are free to take in whatever drinks they choose as part of their lunch box - to be consumed at lunch or breaktime.

In the interests of good hydration and better concentration, schools are now encouraging children to drink water throughout the school day, by keeping a water-bottle to hand. As had been stated previously, it would be impractical to allow all sorts of drinks to be available all throughout the school day.

zippitippitoes · 15/09/2005 14:51

hmc isn't it a privilege to be allowed a drink during lesson time and for practical reasons water is the only sensible option

and i agree take it up with the head but they have every right to make their rules

hunkermunker · 15/09/2005 14:53

Why not allow a choice of sandwiches and biscuits as well as all manner of beverages? Perhaps teachers could retrain as waiters/waitresses?

Or, just give them water during lessons.

spidermama · 15/09/2005 14:54

No time to read thread as feeding baby ANd arguing against uniform.

Water's the best option though for health reasons.
I'm not so bothered about bending rules.

Original poster
Bozza · 15/09/2005 14:56

Just got back from a team visit to Pizza Hut (because I am one of those Mums who practices what she preaches and find all this. Unicorn to answer your question, yes it was made perfectly clear both in a letter sent home and in a talk parents were invited to last term. Our school seems quite good at communication, DS brings home bits of paper all the time although as I said yesterday's were so wet they fell apart but at least they weren't sticky!

It seems that a lot of parents are willing to pander to their children and so we end up getting negative peer pressure at 4yo instead of positive peer pressure like OO's daughter drinking the water and the milk now. I was thinking exactly along these lines when I wrote the cheque for the term's milk - if everyone else is drinking it he probably will and thats how its going so far.

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 15/09/2005 15:06

Hunker

SoupDragon · 15/09/2005 16:24

Mosschops "perhaps with that comment soupy you should join them!! " Which comment exactly and join who???

dinosaur · 15/09/2005 16:28

Ye gods. Is there no subject which doesn't provoke a ruck on here?

iota · 15/09/2005 16:31

I as actually pleased about the water bottle rule when ds1 started in reception.

He never drank plain water at home but will happily drink water from his water bottle at school - and all the children like using the water fountain.

I think it's an excellent rule and everyone should obey it

bobbybob · 15/09/2005 16:36

I'm a hard woman - I only provided water at ds's birthday party.