Does your kindergartener have snack time?

[Oonah]

I was a little surprised when I learned that DS's K class has snack time. Each family is given 2 days per month to bring in an afternoon snack for the class...there are no restrictions on what you can bring in.

DH and I really hate this idea.

We have some anxiety about parents bringing in all kinds of highly processed foods & sweets. We certainly eat our share of those things at home but we as parents say what, how much and how often.

The school has the perfect opportunity to teach the children and parents about making healthy food choices....and they're not doing it...that really bugs me.

I am sure it's not going to be snickers bars or donuts every day....but then again, during the open house the teacher gave each of the kids a chocolate bar. :

Am I making too big a deal out of this? Do I need to let go a little?
I want to say something to the teachers right away....maybe asking for the field of possible snacks being narrowed down so at least the parents have SOME idea what their children are eating at school. Or should I wait and see how it goes before rocking the boat?

help!

[lisac77]

Originally Posted by Oonah

I was a little surprised when I learned that DS's K class has snack time. Each family is given 2 days per month to bring in an afternoon snack for the class...there are no restrictions on what you can bring in.

DH and I really hate this idea.

We have some anxiety about parents bringing in all kinds of highly processed foods & sweets. We certainly eat our share of those things at home but we as parents say what, how much and how often.

The school has the perfect opportunity to teach the children and parents about making healthy food choices....and they're not doing it...that really bugs me.

I am sure it's not going to be snickers bars or donuts every day....but then again, during the open house the teacher gave each of the kids a chocolate bar. :

Am I making too big a deal out of this? Do I need to let go a little?
I want to say something to the teachers right away....maybe asking for the field of possible snacks being narrowed down so at least the parents have SOME idea what their children are eating at school. Or should I wait and see how it goes before rocking the boat?

help!

I'd definitely give it some time and see how it plays out. I know I was all about sending healthy snacks last year (we send them individually, though, not for the whole class) but they would come home uneaten. I honestly stopped worrying so much about "healthy" and leaned more towards having a snack that was reasonably healthy that he would actually eat.

I think your issue is not so much the snack time but the possibility that people might send in "unhealthy" foods. You just can't know that stuff going into it. Give it a week or two, and then talk to the teacher if you're still concerned.

In my case I let go and sent in things like graham crackers and such, but at least he got a snack in the afternoon that he would eat (they ate lunch very early, so he got no chance to eat in the afternoon other than snack time).

[beanma]

At my dd2's school they offer snack to the mixed age pre-K/K class in the morning. The school provides it, though. It's all healthy things like cheese cubes and grapes and maybe a few crackers or pretzels. Sometimes it's yogurt and granola or hummus and tortillas. The kids serve themselves (Montessori style, I guess) and there is a limit on how many of each item they can have. The teachers make little signs that say "2 (two) cheese cubes" and they have little tongs to get the cheese cubes.

Free-for-all snacks would make me slightly crazy, too.

I don't think it would hurt to approach the teacher about getting some parameters for healthy snacks.

[suabel]

Kindergarten in our county is half day and the kids get just milk midway through the three hour session. I personally don't think it's necessary at all, but that's the way they do it here. Kids can purchase milk or bring a drink of choice from home.

When my kids were in preschool, snack was handled the way the OP described, with certain days for each family to provide a snack. Very loose parameters were given on the requirements, and certainly sometimes my kids got things I don't buy like oreos or fruit punch. It bothered me at first, but I learned to let it go. Unless it's candy every day, I honestly don't think it will harm a child's overall healthy diet.

[Evergreen]

Unless it is a special occasion I would imagine most parents bring relatively healthy snacks. I know that when dd was in kindergarten fruit snacks, crackers, string cheeses and real fruit seemed to be the most common items. Sometimes she would be excited because someone sent in cookies or potato chips. I made cupcakes on her birthday. For the most part though, snack was what was typically served at home. Maybe not oatmeal with wheat germ but not Cheetos every day either.

The room moms sometimes made awesome creations. As a working mom I usually just sent a couple bunches of bananas and a box of saltines for the teacher to distribute. I think if our snack was so awful my dd would have definitely pointed it out.

[dnr3301]

our K has snack (two actually), and they send home a note each month with the schedule for parents, and a note periodically throughout the year about types of snacks (suggestions for things on the healthier side).

the classroom also has a couple of "food work" stations (montessori).

the E! classes have snacks too (1-3 grade). I think the kids work/learn better with occasional food.

[WC_hapamama]

At the elementary school my kids attend, they do have a snack break, but the kids are supposed to bring their snacks/drinks from home. No communal snack, and sharing between kids is not allowed.

[octobermom]

Yes my Daughter had snack time last year it was eaither what the school provided those gross overly processed "wheat" (ha) crackers with fake cheese or something I brought from home. I ussually eaither sent her with fruit or like bunny crackers I gave up making it a big learning lesson in food she jsut needed a carb pick me up. For me as long as they don't ingnore food allergies and such I'm personally fine with parents being allowed to bring snacks and the idea that may mean not so great things. Its my job to provide healthy. So I'm often the mom who does bring fresh cut up fruit to her school parties where everyone else brings cheetos and gummy snacks. My DD knows this and because shes has no allergy or food restrictions can choose the cheetos that one time they are offered. She also knows it wont /rarely be bought here and she wont get it at home. My guess is your'll see a decent mixture of healthy (fruit veggies ect) semi healthy (real cheese and crackers ect and junk (cupcakes). Also unless the school already has a great food program in place I would NOT count on them giving healthy my DD schools example of healthy includes overly processed chicken nuggets (protein) tater tots (veggies) ketchup (second veggie choice) fruit cocktail (fruit) and milk (dairy) and that an overall "healthier" menu example.

Deanna

[Porcelain Interior]

Yes my kids had snack in K. One month girls were supposed to contribute something, and the opposite months the boys did.

Never ended up working like that so a couple of us moms would generally donate huge sizes of things since the other parents flaked out most months.

Most people choose things like pretzels- maybe not the most awesomely wholesome food on earth, but they really only give them 3-4 a piece.

We did have one mom that loved bringing in kool-aid pouches and brightly colored "fruit" snacks.

It didn't bug me too much.

You can always communicate with the teacher about making a list of acceptable snack donations.

I even think the teacher might appreciate someone stepping up to brainstorm about that.

[StephandOwen]

My ds's K class does snack time. They eat lunch at 10:40 so by afternoon they're starving! The teacher generates a "snack schedule", generally each kid brings a snack once every 1 1/2 months. There was a suggestion list sent home as well as guidelines (how much fat and sugar could be in the item if it was processed). Birthday's are the exception, in which case the child could bring a treat but NO CAKE! LOL. I think the teacher has a *thing* against cake because she was very much against cake

[SiValleySteph]

Originally Posted by WC_hapamama

At the elementary school my kids attend, they do have a snack break, but the kids are supposed to bring their snacks/drinks from home. No communal snack, and sharing between kids is not allowed.

Same here.

My son's K teacher encourages birthday celebrations and you are allowed to bring a healthy snack to share for your child's special day. My son's birthday is next month, so we'll be doing this. Options are fruit, cheese & crackers, veggies, raisins, that sort of thing. I can't remember the whole list, but it is pretty good. No homebaked items. No cupcakes.

[northwoods1995]

Yes. We are supposed to provide snacks for the class twice per month.

It was the same way in pre-k. The snacks weren't the greatest but not the worst either. No sweets like donuts, etc were allowed. We usually brought bananas or string cheese and others brought grahams, cheese & crackers, applesauce, goldfish crackers, etc.

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen

My ds's K class does snack time. They eat lunch at 10:40 so by afternoon they're starving! The teacher generates a "snack schedule", generally each kid brings a snack once every 1 1/2 months. There was a suggestion list sent home as well as guidelines (how much fat and sugar could be in the item if it was processed). Birthday's are the exception, in which case the child could bring a treat but NO CAKE! LOL. I think the teacher has a *thing* against cake because she was very much against cake

DS's school is like that too, but I think it's because of the frosting getting in the carpet. :

[excitedtobeamom]

Yes, they have snack time but they must bring their own snack and they have to be healthy meaning no processed or pre-packaged or dessert like food. They really want nuts, fruit, vegetables, etc.

[Smocked]

yes, but it is provided by the school. So far from what dd has told me it's been juice and cereal the first day and then today was cinnamon toast (?) and milk I'm assuming that cinnamon toast crunch, but she didn't want to talk about it

[ledzepplon]

I'd probably say something to the teacher.

My dd doesn't have snack time, since her K is half day. But the school did send home a notice to parents that any snacks brought in for birthdays must be healthy--i.e., no cupcakes, candy, muffins--since the school also does bake sales once a month and they don't want to overdo the sweets. I was thrilled.