Children not allowed squash in school !

krooton · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:19

I do find it weird how some people don't like water, the second most important thing our bodies need to survive after oxygen.

If your tap water tastes funny, invest in a Brita filter, or get filters built in to your taps. The sooner they learn to like water, the better.

My gf doesn't drink water, only flavoured water, squash or fizzy drinks. She is constantly dehydrated and has some health issues as a result.

RDM · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:21

Skywalker said:
So what's the health implications of 5% flavour in a glass of water ?

No idea, you would need to ask the school, but comparing water to urine is possibly being a bit silly.

Skywalker said:
He very rarely makes bad choices this is the thing , He is so smart it is crazy . His last school he was on the school council and many more things . Since being at this school he has been bullied , beaten up and teased because of his size as he is such a well built lad and his intelligence . He doesn't fight back because he knows violence at school is not accepted .

I have rarely met a parent whose child isn't smart in their minds

Regardless saying that encouraging your child to drink water is child abuse is a bit silly.

The Dread Pirate · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:23

RDM said:
Regardless saying that encouraging your child to drink water is child abuse is a bit silly.

Depends on how you're going about it really asking nicely wouldn't be a problem... water-boarding them until they do regardless of how effective is another matter entirely!

SpeedFreak · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:24

Skywalker said:
Well at this moment in time he needs fluid like everyone else and he is getting this by drinking squash at such a diluted ratio it just takes the horrible taste of plain water away .

With this kind of crazy I think I'll just back out of the thread now.

rotters · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:25

I think your being weak over something very simple, it is not child abuse to enforce the drinking of water with out squash being added to it, it is simply normal parenting, you are preparing them for life with rules. He does not need to enjoy it, but he needs the hydration.

I'm going to bow out of this thread now as you are obviously unwilling to change, as to your flippant reply regarding urine...come on....

This is a 1st world problem just think of that. How easy he could have been born into poverty in another part of the world with muddy, dirty water only on offer.

byteagig · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:25

There is some silly rules at schools that don't make sense to most of us, but sometimes its best to suck it up and just do as they say. This will give your children a good example to follow, just explain that sometimes we have to do things we don't like. If you accept it, your children will have a harder time justifying fighting it! And overall they will have a happier existence concentrating on the important things rather than petty arguments!

Skywalker · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:26

RDM said:
No idea, you would need to ask the school, but comparing water to urine is possibly being a bit silly.

I have rarely met a parent whose child isn't smart in their minds

Regardless saying that encouraging your child to drink water is child abuse is a bit silly.

It is a good one to be honest I can imagine , 2 things he wouldn't drink .

When did I ever say encouraging your child to drink water was abuse :rolleyes:

Making them and even to the extreme of not giving your child a drink until they are begging for a drink and only giving them something they dont like is abuse as your with holding a vital thing a child needs

Xordium · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:28

So "Skywalker" what do you think about my suggestion on the last page

Xordium said:
THIS ONE

Are you looking for a solution to this problem or just a rant?

Skywalker · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:31

rotters said:
I think your being weak over something very simple, it is not child abuse to enforce the drinking of water with out squash being added to it, it is simply normal parenting, you are preparing them for life with rules. He does not need to enjoy it, but he needs the hydration.

No I just don't agree with forcing a child to take something they don't like , especially when you withhold a drink from the child to only give something they don't like

He gets hydration from adding a little squash ffs I don't stop my kids drinking, he doesn't need to enjoy it this is true , but given the choice I'm sure everyone would rather take there own choice not something forced upon them by a someone else :rolleyes:

The Dread Pirate · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:31

Skywalker said:
It is a good one to be honest I can imagine , 2 things he wouldn't drink .

When did I ever say encouraging your child to drink water was abuse Making them and even to the extreme of not giving your child a drink until they are begging for a drink and only giving them something they dont like is abuse as your with holding a vital thing a child needs

You're confusing need with want there He needs to stay hydrated thus he needs water he "wants" said water not to taste like water. Need is something that's required for your survival want is something that you can live without but would prefer. Teaching your son the difference between the two is vital and as such you should withhold the desired item until he gets the message. Or one day when he does eventually have to fly the nest he'll be stuck in the habit of if I complain loudly enough I'll get what I want handed to me!

ANyhoo enough of that as I'm starting to sound like my own father... :eek:

valkynaz · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:31

Does this rule apply to classrooms only?

I don't know the reasoning behind it but it was the same when I was at school. The only drink you was allowed in class was water in a clear bottle. Although if you had an awesome teacher they didn't mind as it was a stupid rule to begin with. At dinner/break you could drink whatever you wanted.

Skywalker · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:34

Xordium said:
So "Skywalker" what do you think about my suggestion on the last page
Are you looking for a solution to this problem or just a rant?

Sorry missed that one .

He does have a varied diet of drinks in the form of squash , tea , milk and pure juices .

Happy to ask him to replace one of the above with plain water but if he doesn't want to drink it I cant force him to do it im afraid .

Im not after a rant , I am after help with my original question and you seem to be the only one offering help at the moment so thank you .

ShortWarning · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:36

It is a stupid rule and you should speak to the head but it's very important that you encourage your child to drink water (without squash). Kids don't like vegetables or homework or water but they should be encouraged (I'd even go so far as to say forced) to eat/drink do these things.

However, it's not the schools place to do this, it's yours.

rotters · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:38

Skywalker said:
especially when you withhold a drink from the child to only give something they don't like

Ive never advocated this. but I feel I champion better choices for my children who are ill informed to make choices at 5 and 7.

Son: would you like a glass of fresh water or would you like a glass with added non natural chemical flavourings....thats extreme wording, but my son would take water every time. It doesn't mean he isn't allowed it, but he wouldn't be offered it daily.

Xordium · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:39

Well then if I could help then I would offer this one last thing and irrespective of the drink it's maybe the most important.

All the parenting advice in this thread has been force, deny, ignore, allow ... at the end of the day you know I am quite sure water is the better option (although a bit of squash hardly hurts) but this is something for in a few years. Your lad is 10 - you need to be negotiating, supporting and encouraging (well at all ages I am sure you get my drift) - so maybe negotiating with the school is a good thing to show him. Make a plan with the school and your lad - respectfully point out to the school it can wait a few more weeks, they've only just started this and yet he has been allowed for 5 years. You all need to negotiate you all need to give ground - the school should give you time to sort this out, your lad needs to accept there are rules and this is hardly a bad one, you need to be the one to encourage, support and reward him for changing his behaviour. Because if you don't get this stuff sorted pronto you'll have a devil of a game in a few years!

The Dread Pirate · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:40

Xordium said:
Well then if I could help then I would offer this one last thing and irrespective of the drink it's maybe the most important.

All the parenting advice in this thread has been force, deny, ignore, allow ... at the end of the day you know I am quite sure water is the better option (although a bit of squash hardly hurts) but this is something for in a few years. Your lad is 10 - you need to be negotiating, supporting and encouraging (well at all ages I am sure you get my drift) - so maybe negotiating with the school is a good thing to show him. Make a plan with the school and your lad - respectfully point out to the school it can wait a few more weeks, they've only just started this and yet he has been allowed for 5 years. You all need to negotiate you all need to give ground - the school should give you time to sort this out, your lad needs to accept their are rules and this is hardly a bad one, you need to be the one to encourage, support and reward him for changing his behaviour. Because if you don't get this stuff sorted pronto you'll have a devil of a game in a few years!

Indeed you have to find the balance of Firm but Fair!

PlatinumLiam · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:42

At the end of the day this is the schools rule and you can set about trying to sort this in two ways. Either go and speak to the head of the school and see if it can be sorted that way or you can try to get him to drink tap water. However you do have a point and i think the best thing to do is contact the school.

Skywalker · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:45

rotters said:
Ive never advocated this. but I feel I champion better choices for my children who are ill informed to make choices at 5 and 7.

Son: would you like a glass of fresh water or would you like a glass with added non natural chemical flavourings....thats extreme wording, but my son would take water every time. It doesn't mean he isn't allowed it, but he wouldn't be offered it daily.

Sorry that wasn't aimed directly at you , Speedfreek was saying they get there kids to need a drink and pretty much only offer water .

But you help there by saying the word choices a few times where as a lot of the people in saying in here is force etc .

ahar · 2 Jul 2013 at 14:56

Skywalker said:
Yes and then some saying I should abuse him in the way I just posted by starving him of a drink till he drinks plain water

It's not abusing him, it's being a parent. We make our kids do thinks they don't want to for a variety of reasons. Very difficult sometimes (particularly with toddlers - my daughter is a nightmare for teeth brushing) but that's part of being a parent.

School says water, give him water. You're not starving him of a drink - he has a drink. He may not like it, but it's only water - he'll get used to it soon enough.

If you make an issue of it with the school you'll have done no benefit for him or you, and probably have lost the argument with the school anyway. Much more important things to focus on (like you recovering from your hospital stay).

Skywalker · 2 Jul 2013 at 15:02

Forcing a child when they have a choice as he is 10 years old is abuse and that is how I parent , I agree on the brushing of the teeth 100% as that is for there benefit of personal care but I wouldn't force the 10 year old to do it as I have sat down with him and explained that that is there for personal health and he brushes his teeth atleast twice a day .
Forcing a child to drink something via withholding everything else to the point of dehydration is therefore force when they should have a choice . I wouldn't do this to an adult so I wouldn't do it to my child .