Reception - not eating and drinking much - worried

[Daydreaming]

I just need some reassurance !

There are a few little issues that are getting me down since DD started Reception, and one of them is to do with eating and drinking.

DD is a very good eater but she is quite slow. She takes a packed lunch and I have been putting a few things in there ( but not that much) and some of it always comes back. Tonight she said that there is not enough time to eat and she was really upset about it and started crying. I have not yet checked with the school but assume that it's probably 30 minutes. DD kept saying tonight that she only wanted "two things" and nothing more. She is also not drinking - her water bottle comes back full. I am quite concerned about her health.

It was all a lot more relaxed at her small nursery school...

Do you think she will just get used to it?

You need to talk to her teacher, in our school there is no time limit on lunch and water is available on the table so although my son has packed lunch 2 days a week, he doesn't drink his water that I provide.

Your daughter could be very distracted as school halls are bustling with children talking and there is lots to stare at.

Talk to her teacher to raise your concerns and the dinner staff can keep an eye on her and help nudge her along.

DS1 started reception too last week and seems to be brining most of his packed lunch home with him. Make sure you dont put too much in the lunch box. She'll get used to eating quicker (and all the distractions around her).

Definitely speak to the teacher ... but also consider putting less in her lunchbox (especially as she's asked you to) and then build up the amount of food gradually.

My Reception age DD has something like a sandwich (made with 1 slice of bread), a small piece of cheese and a handful of raisins in her lunch and she leaves some about half the time. She also seems to find anymore too overwhelming and actually eats less!

Does she get a snack mid-morning? If she's having milk and a piece of fruit she may not really want much in her lunch.

So many children are like this when they start school. Working as a TA in a reception class I really have lost count of the number of children who don't eat much at lunch when they start school. its such a big change for them. I promise you thought that as the year goes on they do get better as they get use to the school environment.

Thanks for responding Fizzy.
I think I will need to speak to the teacher but so far when I asked about a couple of other things, I got a bit of a defensive and unhelpful vibe from the teacher...

That's great that there is no time limit for eating lunch at your school.

I am not happy because it makes me sad to see my normally very happy 4 year old being so anxious about something like her lunch...

Thanks for all the other comments !

I did give her less today so we will see how she goes.
Glad to hear she is not alone...

Is she grumpy at all after school? because that would say she is hungry, maybe make sure you bring snack when collecting & try to get her to eat decent breakfast. Think talking to teacher would be sensible. My DS usually eats like a horse so I don't worry too much but sometimes on way home he's really cross & when I open his lunch bag I see he's hardly eaten anything. Some of his friends are really slow eaters too & I do wonder if they will be given enough time at lunch. I hope they are