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.

I am wondering why not being able to drink water/becoming dehydrated between breakfast and lunchtime has become a medical problem for so many children, when I don't recollect anything like it in my young days. Has human physiology changed?

When I went to school, there were no drinks at breaktime but there was a water fountain. If you didn't drink out of that then you didn't drink. Don't remember this causing any problems. But then in those days, university students used to be able to sit through a 90 minute lecture without refreshments- don't get that these days.

I had this problem with my eldest when she was at infants school. she has never drunk plain water and would go without drinking all day rather than drink it to the point of being ill. Her GP said it doesn't matter what she drinks so long as she drinks. All kids are different and should be treated as individuals and their own needs met. Any school that insists they only have water should also then only provide water for their staff. See how they like it going all day without their tea/coffee!

Lottiespoon

We are not children, though. We did our 'time' when we were little. It is part of our job to be there. It's daft to say we should be deprived tea and coffee because we only allow children water. Should prison guards be denied their freedom because prisoners are? It's a job.

Juice is a pain. Lots of juice has added sugar, and causes tooth rot, obesity and a mess if spilt.

TBH, I think the people claiming their children won't drink water (with the exception of the SEN lot) are being far too precious. Thank god you live in a country with fresh running water, and free education.

Not having juice at school is definitely a 'first world' problem. Next you'll be complaining there's too much coriander in the school lunch's guacamole.

Why do you think that as an adult you should have choice in what you drink but children should not? You are there because it is your job, a job you chose. the children are there because they have to be. Why do you say SEN children are not included in your argument. They have special educational needs, not special dietary requirements. As for the coriander in the guacomole, my kids come home for lunch so they don't have people standing over them telling them what they can and can't eat. They are both fit and healthy so don't criticise people you don't know. Everyone should be treated fairly and telling children they can only have water whilst staff are standing their drinking just what they like is not being treated fairly.

Apart from the health issue, in our school spilt water = wet patch; Spilt squash = sticky wet patch and in warm weather ants! This then gives a another problem as children can't sit on the carpet with ants around the caretaker can't put ant powder or similar around whilst the children are in the class.

Fairly is not the same as equally. I treat my class fairly, but I do not treat them equally. They don't get a say in whether we do maths or not. I don't have to clamber up the PE apparatus just because I have instructed them to. That's not how the world works. I get paid to be there, they don't. That's not equal. I refer back to my comparison with prison guards.

I excluded the SEN children because some of them have very strict rules they impose upon themselves, as demonstrated in the 130 posts or so on this forum. They are not just being fussy.

No child is going to collapse because they only had water available. That is just overly precious.

'Everyone should be treated fairly and telling children they can only have water whilst staff are standing their drinking just what they like is not being treated fairly.'

By all means, I'm happy to offer them tea and coffee without sugar as alternatives.
But really, you are saying that children and adult staff should be treated as equals?

If a child would rather get dehydrated than drink water they're drinking far too much juice and squash imho.

Teeth aside kids being used to a continual sweet taste all day isn't good.Kids should only be drinking water as should adults. Drinking sugar continuously isn't good for anybody and schools have a role in teaching that. Schools teach reading but a lot of parents don't read.It's all about setting a role model in order to give kids the best future.

It's funny but my kids haven't a clue what is in other kids bottles,we never buy squash and they only have 1 tiny glass of juice every day which is plenty so they're not that bothered anyway.They don't like squash, dd thinks it makes her thirsty.Subject hasn't arisen,snacks now that's a whole other issue.

There are enough problems with pools of water -at least it isn't sticky.
The DCs know the rules and you can be sure they will tell if someone is being unfair.

So glad your not a teacher at our school. You say the SEN children are not being fussy. So a child who hasn't been given this label is classed as fussy but one that has SEN is not. You truly don't have any understanding over children who genuinly have an eating disorder through physical or psychological problems. Just because they haven't been given a label, doesn't mean there isn't a problem.I also think you overly use the word precious. Try the thesaurus for an alternative word! Ever heard the phrase "lead by example". You can't tell people to do one thing and then you yourself do something else. Yes they are children, but they are still people too.

I doubt any child would want stewed urn playground duty tea anyhow.

probably better than the water thats come through the lead pipes at school!

I repeated myself because it seems that, whatever I (and the other teachers here) say, you're determined to not hear it.

If a child has an eating disorder, that is a Special Educational Need, is it not?

Are you honestly trying to tell me that you live by the same rules you impose on your DC? Including bed times, food choices, outings etc?

If they genuinely have an eating disorder through physical or psychological problems then they have a label

Home education, it's the only answer to the problem.
Or move to a less fussy school, like the one I taught in up north where the girls came to school in their cotton salwar kemeez in winter, glittering with glass bangles, drop earrings and glitter slippers. Waterbottles had squash or coke in.
We were just happy they turned up most days and wanted to learn something.

We provide filtered water coolers in classrooms

We have a water tank too.

I'm not listening to you repeating yourself as you are saying the same old thing. Being a teacher does not mean you have all the answers, but you seem to think you do. Being a teacher you should also be aware of how difficult and how long it takes to get a child statemented. So during this long process, insisting that a child drinks something they won't puts immense emotional pressure on them which they can do without. Sometimes you need to step back and think "is there an underlying issue here" instead of straight away saying it's just parents being Precious. I'm sorry if you feel this is an attack on teachers, but sometimes as a parent it feels as though schools want to take over every aspect of your childs lives, giving the impression that they know best. Sometimes you might do, but often not.

Anyone who is genuinely thirsty will drink water.
Someone who is dying of thirst in the desert isn't going to turn it down - saying ''I only drink juice'!

They are simply not thirsty enough and can manage without. We all used to when we were at school.

when i was a child i hated water (still do, but make myself drink it) and i would NOT drink it, especially at school because the school tap water tasted vile, and if i had it in a flask it tasted weird too.

i was hospitalised with dehydration several times because I wouldn't drink it

so it simply is not the case that if someone is thirsty enough they will drink it.
in the end they let me take a milkshake or juice in each day which had to stay in the office, and i was allowed in at playtime to drink it

By the same token, if children should be treated "equally", then no toilet between 8.45 and 12.30 or 1.15 and 3.15 for my lot then!

You don't need a child to be statement for them to have SEN.

snowball I'm shocked I go 12hours between "comfort breaks" most days