If a child does not like plain water, they will not drink it.. I would rather my child drink some weak juice than not drink anything for the whole day, especially of it is hot. Im sure my child's learning would be impacted more by dehydration rather than a bit of sugar in their juice bottle.
My child (five years old) actually likes water but he does not drink enough during the day. We were told that the teacher does not have time to remind him to drink as they have a lot of other pupils. I appreciate that there are crouded classrooms but dehydration is a real danger during the summer months.
I'm only on P2 of the thread, but wanted to join by quoting this post.
The junior school my kids go to has a similar policy: kids should have bottles with just water in.
They are allowed to drink juice at lunchtime, with their food. They are allowed to take cups of water from the class fountain during the day; but drinking bottles are only to have water in them.
However, they don't insist on clear drinking bottles and don't, to my knowledge, routinely inspect children's bottles for juice, etc.
It's not been an issue for us, as we have always given our children water to drink over juice. They've grown up with it and like it. Juice (diluting/cordial) has always been a treat whilst out on trips (places seem to only sell those fruit shoot things). We'd sooner give them fresh juice, or milk as an alternative to water. It's not so much sugar content, although that is a consideration, but more to do with all the other crap that goes in food nowadays.
A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I wet to a parents meeting with the headteacher. It was to discuss general school issues, not our children specifically. It was here that the matter of drinking water was raised by a mother. A mother whos child won't drink water.
I wasn't aware of the policy until then, as we'd always just given our kids water. I try not to judge*, as 'unless you've walked in their shoes...', etc, but I'll be honest and admit I was taken-aback and couldn't understand why this mother was getting so annoyed. Just give your child drink water, ffs. If they're thirsty, they'll drink it.
Anway, the head explained it was a health policy imposed by the education authority/council and not unique to our school. This didn't help matters. Some other parents joined in what was becoming somewhat aggresive questioning towards the head, including a GP. A GP that happens to also be
our GP.
She was saying things like, 'What's worse? A child suffering dehydration, or drinking a little juice? What if I just give my child juice? Are you going to start inspecting drinking bottles?'
I didn't feel comfortable talking against a mother whos child won't drink water, or a GP who should know what they're talking about, so just listened. Thinking to myself, 'I'm glad my kids have grown up drinking water!'
The head said she'd go away and think about the issue, but I suspect there's little she can do in the face of official policy.
*Getting back to the whole '..do not judge...' statement I made earlier - GIVE YOUR KIDS WATER, FFS.
If they grow up drinking water, they'll drink it. If parents are lazy and irresponsible and give them crap-filled flavoured drinks all the time, then don't be surprised if that's what they always want and refuse water. I've seen parents give babies bottles with juice in.
Some people shouldn't be allowed to breed.
That ends the deliberately confrontational section of my post.
