Am i just too fussy?

[linzoid]

My ds went into pre-school today and went over to where they can get themselves a drink of water. I have never really noticed before but they have a plastic jug of water, 5 cups and a small bowl of cold water on a tray. What they do is pour their drink, drink it, swill the cup around in the bowl and put the cup back on the tray where another child inevitably re-uses it and does the same. Well, i just had to speak up and tell the nursery teacher that i think it's unhygeinic and a sure fire way of swapping germs. What would you have thought?

Personally, I think it is good that they can help themselves to water whenever they need it especially in this weather and it is far more hygenic that drinking from the tap. I am sure if there are germs to spread they will find other ways of doing so!!

Got to agree with Jaybee.... the germs will have a much more efficient way of spreading and it does sound like a good way to teach the kids about cleaning up after themselves and having a bit of consideration. Good idea!

But perhaps you should just make sure that at some point in the day or at the end of the day the cups are washed properly.

I like the idea of them helping themselves to water but i think that if they had a stack of clean cups on one side and used ones on the other no spit swapping would occur! specially as some were tipping there unfinished water back into the washing bowl. Forgot to mention tho that my son does have a possible immune deficiency( under investigation) and picks up every germ going! Or perhaps i am just one of those nightmare mothers!!

I don't think this is very good actually. Yes, it is a good idea to get them to rinse their cups, but they should not be sharing cups that have not been properly washed. I mean, as adults I doubt any of us would consider drinking from a cup that has been drunk from by a work colleague, and not washed.

Can't they supply each child with their own cup?

linzoid - I can understand your concern now you have explained re. the possible immune problem - could you not suggest to the pre-school that he takes his own plastic mug.

Good point Oakmaiden, I woulndt drnik from someone elses cup. Giving each child their own cup (or bringing one from home) is a good solution.

at my dd's school they each bring their own named water bottle (you know, something with a sports lid). then they drink as much water as they like during the day but the sports lid means they don't have too many enormous spills.

No, you're not too fussy, I wouldn't like it either and I think it's very likely it'll be picked up at the next ofsted (who now cover dss inspections I think) as a point to rectify. Before that though, I think you're quite right to ask them to supply disposable cups or more cups and ask each child to use a clean one each time - the dirty ones should be put in a sink for washing.

Check out your local water company's website.

If you are in the area covered by Severn Trent, they will supply every child with their own water bottle on request sent by the head of the school. This way they can all have their own bottle without any cost to the parents and minimal disruption to the class of walking away from desks.

I totally agree with linzoid. I certainly wouldn't drink from someone else's cup that hadn't been washed in hot water and soap. I think it's amazing that a nursery would think it's ok for kids (never mind auto immune) who always have millions of colds to spread. They could put a bit of tape with each child's name on a cup, or disposable, or water bottles, or a drinking fountain (not actually all that expensive to install instead of a sink.)

I arrived at nursery this morning to be told by one of the other nursery teachers that she aggress with me about the water and they will change to another system! Great!