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

[Bozza]

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?

do keep up hunker!

Bozza... in responce to your original post i too would be mad....

I agree the children should have WATER in their bottle as that waht the school says....

RULES are RULES and if 5 year olds are taught it is ok to break them what will they be like at 15

If a child is thisrty they will drink water.... if they wont drink water they obvioulsy arnt that thirtsy.

i would have a word with the teacher.... agree that drinks that arnt water should be tipped down the sink.... they will soon get the messsage...

also its not a disaster if water spills on a book.... but Ribena or Diet coke is a diffrent matter.

I cant ebliev so many think its ok to give the children juice etc when the school rules say water only...

The issue is not that 'juice good for them' etc... the issue is the RULES state water only.... so WATER it should be

and those who dont want water can be thirsty instead

God, can't read the whole thread - am at work! Drinking water too...love it!

But I see access to water all day as a privilege which is proven to be beneficial to children. We weren't allowed drinks throughout lesson times when I was at school. Sometimes water would have been nice.

Where do you draw the line? Would you allow teenagers to sip from cans of coke all throughout their lessons in senior school for the sake of having access to a drink all day?

Lonelymum - if I was at deaths door, but only then

Anyway, tbh, I hadn't considered the spillage aspect and I didn't really think too hard about 'breaking rules' - I just didn't see a dash of fruit juice as much of an issue. Tbh, I was just trying to get ds1 to school with as little trauma as possible and just making it easier on myself!

Will change it tomorrow though. Poor ds1 - yeuck!

GDG, he might like it Just because you don't...

No Beatie because spilled cans/bottles would be hazardous to coursework. But what they drink in the playground is up to them.

He hates it! Believe me I've tried it!

Oh well, don't want him growing up into a juvenile delinquent anyway!

Goosey - I think most schools allow children to bring in a drink of their choosing for their lunch box though. The access to water during lesson times is a different matter.

ah - he'll get used to it

remember how you all moaned when I got skimmed milk? and look at you now - still can't stand the stuff!

(but the boys won't have anything else )

It's an interesting point about whether schools should be more proactive in banning foods.

Last year my son's school allowed children to take a piece of fruit or veg for a mid morning snack. Some parents started to push the boundaries of this rule and began sending fruit bars. Then fruit winders began to appear and flapjacks until my son was coming home and saying 'it's not fair, some people had buns at break time and you only gave me a carrot'.

This year they have introduced the free piece of fruit and veg supplied by the government to primaries. I think this is a good thing for two reasons

• it makes it much easier for parents who want their children to eat healthily - ie everyone is having the same healthy option
• it means that the children will be encouraged to try things they may not eat at home, either becuase it is not offered or they think they won't like it.

To all the people saying "Rules are rules", well it used to be the rules that women can't vote. And that was supposed to be for their own good too.

It's a good job that we have some people in this counrty who are prepared to challange the ruyles they feel are silly and unfair, because without these people none of us ladies would have good jobs, or computer access.

I got my ds to drink water by getting a water filter jug and making "magic water" - some people believe anything
Might be worth a try for those of you who can't get their LO to drink the stuff.

yes cold but these people should challenge a rule if they don't like but they shouldn't break it. imo it's a good rule anyway!!

As I've said before, if people think that rules are bad then they should challenge them through the proper channels and not just blithely ignore them when it suits.

jinx, daisy

eew - skimmed milk! IT'S LIKE WATER! Guffaw!!

So if a law was brought in that women were not allowed to be taught to read and write, with the scientific basis that it overheats their brains, would you stop teaching your daughters to read and write?

Or what about the sociological basis that higher education for women is a waste of taxpayers money, because of the fact that they make less use of it than men? If they made a law, with good basis, would any of you not protest?

Message withdrawn

oh bollocks-crap colditz like women voting has anything to do with the simple ability to follow simple rules set for the benefit of the majority

if you have an issue with anything school does get an appointment with the headmaster and discuss it calmly

but don't flout the rules or bring your child up to believe its ok for them to flout the rules

that's why there are spoilt brats in the world

challenging rules or flouting them?
different meanings.

colditz I think you may have lost the plot - could you be dehydrated? Maybe you need a drink of water.

it would be ridiculous to have fruit shoots and bottles of ribena in the classroom

so just because it's decanted into a water bottle it's still mad

children are spoilt these days

rods for your own backs IMO

and it's expensive and discriminatory

Message withdrawn

yes you challenge a rule by discussing with the head in an adult manner

you flout a rule by

providing juice when they say water
adjusting the school uniform because its easier for you
letting little pooki-crumbs have what you want them to have

starting school is a terrible challenge for parents IMO .. and I'm just doing it .. it is so difficult to let go and let others make the rules for my child but as long as they don't harm then I will let the school know how best to cope with that many children

I wonder if those who flout the rules had an unhappy schooling themselves?