The water only rules. No juice.

[OnlyWantsOne]

It's there for a reason. Isn't it?

So why do some parents still send juice in bottles concealed as water for their children?

One child in my dd's class has juice. Every day. Her mother won't MAKE her have water because she doesn't feel she should have to.

Except dd and one other child I know of have been whining how it's not fair - how they want juice too etc etc etc and I've had enough.

Didn't want to post in AIBU but needed to vent.

The people who make up these rules don't seem to understand that water tastes different to different people. To some, it is a virtually tasteless, refreshing, thirst quenching drink. To others, like me, it is a bit like putting bitter metallic liquid in my mouth. It does nothing to quench my thirst, it makes my teeth hurt and the poisonous taste lingers long after it has been swallowed. The only times I will drink the stuff is to be polite when with a client if tea and coffee are the only other choices, or when I'm ill as watery vomit tastes marginally better than milky or juicy sick. So I'd be one of those children who would have dehydrated themselves at school. Luckily we were allowed milk and juice back in the dark ages then.

I understand the point about how lucky we are to have a choice of drinks available in this country, but there's a big difference between not drinking all day because of a silly rule when you know there's a tasty drink waiting at home for you at the end of the day, and drinking water because it's the only liquid available and you wouldn't survive without it.

Have only read first few posts.

The pupils should be allowed to drink water only in the classroom.

Afaik there is no reasonable reason they can restrict it to water outside the classroom (but may say no 'energy' drinks).

Personally I send my kids with squash for lunchtime. I don't expect them to have access to squash in the classroom tho.

Cuppatea- I of course respect your expericene. But I suggest that you must be a very rare case indeed.And, unless you are not a human being, water can't possibly not quench your thirst. That's how human biology works.

I'm in the same category as cupoftea. Water makes me gag (as does milk).

The staff in hospital recognise this is the case and allowed me to have v weak squash to take pre op medicine.

Have you nearly drowned- or had some other traumatising experience with water?

Nope. Just never liked it as far back as I can remember.

My dc do drink water if it is fresh out of the tap, but don't like 'stale' water from their bottle. They are not fussed about having it in the class so I give them squash for them to have at lunch.

Milk makes me gag too. I have awful memories of being made to drink it at school. Fine on cereal though!

I used to detest water too. Never drank it as a child.

I had a really bad bout of food poisoning a few years ago, and ended up only being able to drink water and eat krackerwheat/ plain pasta for about 6 weeks after. Anything else would make my stomach churn then I'd vomit.

I'm not a water fan, and I do drink other drinks in the classroom. TBH, I actually drink diet coke in front of the kids ... not that they know that's what's inside the cup!

I got permission to send dd2 in with cranbury when she has urine infections. However it had to be in a coloured bottle (so no one else could see) and was told if she started telling people then she wouldn't be able to again.

I had gingerbeer in my waterbottle in the classroom during my pregnancies to help with the morning sickness. Not that the children knew, either! Also I wasn't likely to knock it over and make a sticky mess on the desks, chairs, carpets and my neighbours clothes, or damage books or work.

As a teacher I'm not worried what children drink at break and lunchtimes (although milk can be pretty awful by lunchtime as we can't refrigerate luchboxes). What we struggle with is people sneaking squash, etc. in the water bottles that children keep on their desks, then it spills leaving sticky messes on tables and carpets for me to clear up instead of teaching and reading and writing books so damaged they have to be binned. Young children just can't help making a mess (even if it's just a few drips) when drinking. It's not their faults, but it causes headaches if those drips or bigger spills are anything but water.

@milk

I thought water in the classroom was first allowed because children concentrate better when they are well hydrated. Before that, I remember, eating and drinking was not allowed during lessons - and they survived to morning break and then lunchtime.

I am quite shocked about that discussion! Cannot tollerate water etc., for thousands of years the human race survived on water. Has anyone ever been to, taught in an African school (e.g. VSO)? I haven't seen or heard of anyone not being able to drink water - that's all there is!

Ah, the little milk bottles... I remember my friend crying at school when we were little because she couldn't suck the lumps up through the straw...

When I was at school we never had drinks. We had a warm bottle of milk in the morning (yuk) and then just used the water fountains if we were thirsty. No one died. and teas kids would never, ever die of dehydration before they'd drink water, don't be so bloody ridiculous. If your child won't drink water, you've only yourself to blame. So ner.

I'm lucky, ds LOVES water so happily takes his water bottle in each day, this reminds me though of the day a mother tried desperately to hide her ds spilt juice when he had dropped his water bottle, it went everywhere and it was in the unfortunate place of just in front of the door which was just being opened by the teacher

This is like everything else IMO. If your child drinks water, eats carrots and only likes healthy snacks - great. If your child refuses practically most types of food and will only drink one brand of juice then you are often reagrded as a bad parent. Since having the latter type of child, I have had to pick my battles. dd going to school with diluted juice is not something worth making a huge fuss about. I really don't get why people are so bothered about this.

Chubfuddler when I'm in school I don't have time to drink anything

One of the reasons we ask for water only is for the mess and stickiness squash and juice makes when spilt - and ime almost all water bottles leak when handled by year 1 children.

And we do allow squash/juice for lunch time - so a child isn't going to dehydrate - unless they have a medical issue, which is dealt with differently anyway - by not having water or juice in class time.

We don't check particularly but do ask for clear water bottles. Not everyone does, but most children of this age can tell you what other children are having especially if they think it is something "not allowed."

Chubfuddler - when in the classroom I only drink water, if anything at all. I only take a hot drink or non water drink in before or after school, or in my break time - and that is not in the classroom and is away from the children.

They are so bothered about this because many schools only seem to allow water and they appear to have never thought of giving that to their children when they were little and maybe they don't drink it themselves?

Of course children prefer sweet, sugary juices and squashes, all kids like sweet stuff, but if you are thirsty water is best and healthiest and it doesn't stick.

Hi, I'm new to this site but feel I have to reply to the original post. Schools also offer milk in addition to water.
Firstly my daughter was breast fed and has never taken to drinking cows milk and whether drinking cows milk is healthy is debatable anyway.(japanise don't think drinking cows milk is healthy) my daughter will not drink water, she has been in a private day nersery since she was 9 months old and therefor has been offered water. She will sip enough to taste and refuse.
Secondly parents send juice disguised I guess because I believe in this country we encourage free choice. And when I walk into a teacher staff room and do not see a kettle with coffee and tea freely available I will consider leaving my children with the choice of water or go thirsty. Even prisoners are given more respect than our children get in school.
Thirdly I am a health professional, who through my own interest has studied health promotion/education. And its about giving people the knowledge and skill to make choices that are right for them, their health and their lifestyle not about taking away choice and causing distress.
And finally I also have a 9yr old son who in his early years of school would clear a fruit bowl in half a day would eat yogerts but did not like meat/, chips/low fat spread/mayonnaise which made school lunches very difficult and in fact any meal times because although fruit is considered healthy he had at that time a far from healthy diet I would therefor try to introduce carbs with a choc biscuit it his packed lunch along side his ham on dry bread fruit and yogurt and be told by cai that his teacher wouldn't allow him to have it because he it was unhealthy and he would get big and fat and pop!!!!
And this is what schools call health education

In responce to the sarcastic comments about hydration in the foundation yrs which includes early entitlement in wales the school only offer milk water and fruit throughout the school day so that means from the time I drop my children off at 8.30 until 12.15 when they have the packed lunch I prepared and the juice I provide they don't have a drink and they don't then get another until they get home at 15.30 because no matter how many of you say a child will drink if thirsty some won't...some refuse

cazzy, have you considered home education?

Aaaaaaaaaaargh Zombie thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!