DS in year 1 not eating his lunch....should the school make sure they are at this age?

[daisyandbabybootoo]

DS1 started in year 1 at the beginning of the month. Last year he had shool dinners but this year wanted packed lunches with his mates.

Today on the way home from school he had a proper meltdown and screamed and tantrummed his way home. When I got back, I discovered that out of a packed lunch of cheese and ham roll, yogurt, apple and box of raisins, he had only about three bites out of the roll and nothing else.

Which would explain the meltdown if his blood sugar levels were at rock bottom.

He has been getting progressively worse at eating his packed lunch, but this was by far the worst. Surely the school should be ensuring that the little ones are eating properly? He was only five at the end of May so is still on the young side.

My son is 6 and in year 2 and they have to ask to go out to play after lunch. If they haven't eaten enough they aren't allowed out.

Year 1s really should be watched and not allowed to leave the table until their lunchboxes have been checked.

HOWEVER unfortunately there is probably 1 hassled dinnerlady dealing with spillages, tantrums over puddings and lunchboxes so in reality it probably does not get done.

Have a word with ds's teacher, and he/she will ask the dinner lady (or whomever it is on duty) to keep an eye on your ds.

Dont worry, this is a very common thing and school should be supportive.

Does your ds play a role in making his lunch? Perhaps you could devise a menu together that he would be more willing to attempt.

Is he a slow eater? Perhaps he is in a hurry to get outside with his mates.

oh i had htis
he was put on a wathc list
i also gradually reduced his lunch every day

startgin wihtt he sweet things

ds (year1)_says the dinner ladies make sure they eat there sandwiches before they're allowed out to play (i'm going on a 5 year olds word here) assume this is the norm.. perhaps just ask the teacher

he does eat really slowly...

he chooses what he wants in his sarnies every day and i usually oblige within reason.....yesterday it was cheese and jam

we were putting in a funsize choc bar, but stopped that pretty quickly [lunchbox virgin, me]

I'm surprised he's not even eating his yogurt as I have to hide those at thome or he's eat them one after the other.

I'll speak to the teacher tomorrow and see what they say.

Is he upset at school? Does he have enough time to eat at lunch-time?
First off I'd have a word with someone to find out what's happening at lunch-time and what they think.
I don't think children should be held to ransom about eating their lunch. If they don't feel like it let them leave what they don't want. If they are chatting and forgetting to eat then that's different and a gentle nudge would be helpful.
My children have come out of school with their lunches barely touched and have eaten it on the way home. They have still eaten their tea.
The fact he's acting up on the way home doesn't sound unusual for children starting back at school. The expectations for them to conform (straight after a long break) and especially with the change from reception to year 1 can sometimes result in them behaving out of the norm when they are let out of school and they can relax.

juule, he is fine with school and is settling in better in year 1 now there is more structure to the day. his reading and writing are coming on in leaps and bounds. He has quite a good group of frends as well.

they have an hour and 15 mins in total, but i don't know how long they get to eat.

I'm not saying they should be held to ransom, but i fail to see how a small child can function in the afternoon after three bites of a sandwich, especially after a good run about in the playground.

The acting up is characteristic of him when he hasn't eaten enough so it's not about being let out and relaxing.

parent often give fa to much
cit it down to a sarnie only

parent often give fa to much
cit it down to a sarnie only

I had this problem with DS1 last year (and this year too actually - and in Reception ). He now just gets a sandwich and a piece of fruit (the latter is optional for him to eat....if he's not talking too much lol - as they get fruit at first break at school and he has lots at home).

We usually do get half of the lunch eaten these days - but I just let him have a snack as soon as he gets in and he's fine.

I will try that cod, but i don't want the school to think I'm not feeding him well enough

I think he's actually on hunger strike cos I won't buy him nutella for a sandwich filling

"but muuuuum, it's not fair, xxx has chocolate spread in his sandwiches..."