Fish oil supplements in schools?

[Sugarmagnolia]

Have you heard the government are thinking of giving fish oil supplements to all kids in schools? Just wondering what everyone thinks about this. Personally I'm horrified by the idea!

I mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with supplements - I give DS(3) a multivitamin with calcium because his diet isn't brill and he won't drink milk and DD(5) has just started taking Omega-3 +A,C,D & E supplements - but that was MY choice for MY children. And to be honest I'm not sure I'll keep giving it to her because a)she eats a really good, varied diet and b)she seems to be pretty bright and focused academically already so I'm not sure what benefit she's really going to get from it. Plus, we had to try several different brands before we found ones she liked.

I have two children and have chosen two different types of supplements based on their different needs. So these are my questions:

1)How on earth can the government justify giving the same thing to every child?

2)How are they going to ensure that they all take the supplements?

3)And presumably there will be an opportunity for parents to opt out if they want to?

Well, my children don't have fish oil supplements as they are stupidly expensive and I can't afford them. However, I am sure that they would benefit from them soIwould be allfor it - as long as I culd opt out one or more of my children if they didn't suit.

However I do feelit is a little big brother - I can't imagine the children enjoying lining up to get their daily tab

Perhaps vouchers for a prescription from the chemist doled out per child would be better?

waste of public funds, in my opinion. Too nanny state for me. And, my 3 yr old takes fish oils. And my one yr old will probably take them when he is old enough to chew the pill. However, I'm considering packing them in because of the price... seems to me the government has better places to spend our money.

Fish oil is given as part of the bedtime routine in our house every night. I don't really want the school to take this over and would opt out if I could. I think parents who manage to llook afer their children's diet just fine sometimes suffer because a minority of parents just don't feed their kids fish oil nor fish. I don't blame the government for wanting to do something with some of these kids crazy diets....

But Fairymum - what about multivitamins then for kids who just have a rubbish diet in general? And calcium supplements for kids who don't drink milk? And flouride for those with bad teeth?

This is what I mean - yes lots of kids have rubbish diets but every child's needs are going to be different. How can they just make a blanket decision that every child needs Omega-3? I don't see how this is something the government can just take over.

On the other hand, I quite like Securmummy's idea of giving vitamins and supplements on prescription. That way parents can discuss their own child's diet/needs with a GP or health visitor and decide whether or not they would benefit from supplements and if so, which ones without cost being an issue.