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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:
foxinsocks · 15/09/2005 13:32

I know where you're coming from Mosschops and in fact, someone asked me today if I was going to sneak juice in dd's water bottle because for the first time in her life, she is constipated because she's gone back to school and seems to have forgotten to drink anything at all during the school day!

Our tuck shop had those space ship sherbety type things - gawd knows how many of those I ate every day for years!

snafsicle · 15/09/2005 13:32

Did you have to break the ice in the sink beforehand, zippi?

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 13:33

.... and good points from the others that it is highly unlikley that they would get dehydrated in the classroom - if they are that stubborn, then they can fill up during the break and at lunchtime.

zippitippitoes · 15/09/2005 13:34

of course water bottles werren't invented then and they would have slid off the desks anyway

would have had to a thermos flask or summat

Mosschops30 · 15/09/2005 13:35

Message withdrawn

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 13:35

Gosh - this thread is moving fast! I keep on coprss posting. Who would have thought that a simple question about water/juice in school would generate over 200 posts in only three hourse!

That's mumsnet for you!

Windermere · 15/09/2005 13:35

I loved those fishy things! Can you still buy them?

Lilsis1975 · 15/09/2005 13:37

Bozza,
the same is happening in my ds's school. He is 7 now the schools policy is the children have to take clear bottles in to make sure it isn't juice/pop etc. If the staff suspect it is flavoured water they will take it away and taste it (in a cup of course) if it is they tip it away and refill the bottle with plain water.......
Works well and now there is less flavoured/pop/juice being taken in.

stitch · 15/09/2005 13:37

only in the uk do people complain of water.

why? its wonderful stuff. and the only thing that actually quenches thirst.

i personally dont see the need for any diluted drinks, coke etc at all. except perhaps as a treat.

starlover · 15/09/2005 13:38

i am only 25 at when i wa at school we didn't have water in the classroom ffs! what's the world coming too?

we also only had water to drink at lunchtime. And ONLY lunchtime... nothing at morning break

I however was a stubborn little mare and refused point blank to drink water. I did end up at hospital on more than one occasion because I was dehydrated!

think i was the only one though!"

starlover · 15/09/2005 13:38

i really don't see why they need water during class time though

foxinsocks · 15/09/2005 13:38

I loved those fish and chip biscuits - bet they contravened every rule on salt content (let alone the fact that they tasted like you'd been sucking on a malt vinegar bottle)

fish and chip biscuits return

zippitippitoes · 15/09/2005 13:38

we are all far too affluent

stitch · 15/09/2005 13:39

in my school, you could buy coca cola as well as water. i think they sold more water, simply because everyone knew it was better at quenching thirst.
i repeat myself, its only in the uk that people have a strange idea about water.

Windermere · 15/09/2005 13:41

So we are all off to Norwich then!

hunkermunker · 15/09/2005 13:42

Stitch, I agree - I love water and if I could never drink anything again ever, it would be my choice of drink. Because it stops you being thirsty! Other things just wet your mouth for a bit!

starlover · 15/09/2005 13:44

i would choose tea!

starlover · 15/09/2005 13:45

with a splash of vodka

colditz · 15/09/2005 13:45

have you not drunk orange juice and soda water? It is really quenching and lovely on a hot day.

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 13:45

Starlover here is why

colditz · 15/09/2005 13:45

Sl, tea with vodka?[dubious]

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 13:46

Starlover here is why

Prettybird · 15/09/2005 13:46

Oops

starlover · 15/09/2005 13:47

well i can't really do without alcohol.

yoyo · 15/09/2005 13:47

Clear bottles of water only for drinkng during the day at DDs' school. They have diluted juice for lunch 2 or 3 times a week and water the rest of the time. Is the "water only" rule part of the "Healthy Schools Initiative"?