Snack in kindergarten

[AuntNi]

Do you know if it's normal for AM kindergartens to have a snack? When I pick my DD up at 11:20am, she is so absolutely starving that she's a wreck. (I think she's got some blood sugar issues, because my little brother acted the same way when he was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.)

She doesn't eat a lot of breakfast before school, because she's simply not hungry until 9:30-10am. She says they get "some trail mix after recess," but "it's not enough." I'm wondering if I'd be out of line to send her a little something extra, because as hungry as she is when I pick her up, I know she can't be focusing.

Just curious if anyone else has a kindergartener who's starving by late morning, and how you handle it with the teacher.

Thanks!

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Our school (full day for all grades, including K) asks parents to send in a morning snack as well as lunch (no cafeteria), so we have control over what the kids get for snack and can send what we know they want / need / like / aren't allergic to. Which is a policy that I love for exactly those reasons, even though I grumble each day as I pack 4 lunches (all of us take lunch) and two snack packs each morning.

In your case, I would approach the teacher with your questions - what and when do the kids get snack? If her response matches your daughter's report, explain the problem and ask what the teacher would like you to do about it. If that will work, great. If it won't, then ask for permission to do what you think would work. You might also check with other parents to see if any other children have this issue and then you can present issue all together and with more weight because its several children.

[mammastar2]

When dd was in K, there was a snack everyday at a 'snack station' that kids could rotate through, same as the sand table or the writing station. Simple stuff - buns and cheese, apple slices, banana, oatmeal cookies, etc.

[Alyantavid]

My son's full day kindergarten doesn't do a snack. They do take all the kids to the cafeteria for free breakfast before they even start schoolwork though. My kid can't have dairy and doesn't like to eat right after he wakes up, but we have a 20 minute car ride to get there so he eats in the car.

[annethcz]

All of my kids, including my full-day K student, has a snack at schools. Each day a different child is responsible for bringing a healthy snack for the entire class.

In your situation, I'd just talk with the teacher about your DD being hungry and let the teacher know that you'd like to send a snack each day to suppliment the current snack.

[RainyDaze]

My daughter was in 1/2 day kindergarten and I had to send her with a snack everyday.

[LizD]

My son's daycare has snack at 10:15, lunch at 12:30 (for those staying that long), and afternoon snack at 4. All those meals are provided (except I send something on non-vegetarian days!). Some kids bring a little extra breakfast to finish as they arrive, if they get there early. I make sure my son eats a sandwich in the car on the way, even though he had breakfast at home. They need to eat!

[CarrieMF]

K is full day here & they have snack right after recess. There is a 5 day a week, open to everyone breakfast program too though my kid in K doesn't go & eat any.

My other 2 kids are in Grade 1 & 4. They can have snack at first recess & eat it outside.

My dd in Grade 1 is Hypoglycemic. Kids don't have an afternoon snack, but she does outside. It took reminding the K teacher twice to make sure the Supervisors(teachers who rotate the schedule) knew because some of the teachers were telling her she wasn't allowed to. The K teacher then put a note on my dd's locker with the times & pictures of food for at both recesses & noon.

Even when my kids were in playschool which was only hours long they had a snack.

I'd go in & find out what they actually have for snack & find out if your dd is eating it or not. If she's deciding to not eat it, then I'd have a snack for in the car or offer to bring in other things for her(or the whole class now & then)

[Tinkerszs]

I teach 1/2 kinder and there is no snack. I just don't have the time in my schedule. My class doesn't even get recess. There is just too much to teach in too little time.

[peachweenie]

My child in kindergarten gets a snack at 10:00 (such as oatmeal and fruit) and lunch at 12:00. He never eats breakfast, so I am thankful for the snack. The children participate in making the snack and the parents volunteer to bring in some of the food.

Perhaps if you can find other parents in a similar situation, you can get together and volunteer to bring in food for snacks for all of the children.

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by peachweenie

My child in kindergarten gets a snack at 10:00 (such as oatmeal and fruit) and lunch at 12:00. He never eats breakfast, so I am thankful for the snack. The children participate in making the snack and the parents volunteer to bring in some of the food.

Perhaps if you can find other parents in a similar situation, you can get together and volunteer to bring in food for snacks for all of the children.

or brown rice? is there honey on the oatmeal? is the teacher's name Mary?

[sarahmae1]

My DS got a very small snack in half-day K. It wasn't enough for him either. I just tried to fill him up before going, and had a snack waiting for him after school.

[peachweenie]

Moondiapers, no, the teacher's name isn't Mary, but they do have brown rice day (with soy sauce) and honey sure helps the kids slurp down their oatmeal! It's a Waldorf charter school so there's lots of healthy food and care in preparation. I think they get how important it is for children to be properly nourished to learn and flourish.

[TiredX2]

DS had snack in 1/2 day kinder. The only day he didn't was on early release Wednesday when the entire day was only 1:55 long.

He was always starving after school too.

[jeca]

my youngest goes to afternoon preschool and they have snack before they leave school. Actually all my kids get snack in school my others are in the first and fourth grades. I would just tell the teacher about t and tell her you want to send her something extra.

OT but how do you get them tested for that. DD constantly complains that she is hungry. She is always asking for something to eat and I do mean always I'm starting to get concerned.

[Zach'smom]

Ds goes to 1/2 day kidergarten. School is only 2 hurs and 40 minutes long, so it is really not even 1/2 day. The teacher has a lot to cram into those few hours. He doesn't get a snack at school. It took him a couple weeks to get used to it. He is a breakfast eater, so he eats a big breakfast around 8:30 and is fine until he gets lunch around 12:45.

[Hannahsmummy]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

When dd was in K, there was a snack everyday at a 'snack station' that kids could rotate through, same as the sand table or the writing station. Simple stuff - buns and cheese, apple slices, banana, oatmeal cookies, etc.

I LOVE this idea!

My daughter is in kinde from 9am-1pm and they get a snack at around 11. She eats a good breakfast, usually oatmeal, fruit and a yogurt drink then has that snack at school and is still starving when I pick her up at 1pm.