[cjr]

My dd is in kindergarden. Tomorrow they have a field trip to the science centre. They are not allowed to bring a snack or a drink because they won't have time. I told dd that she could take an organic fruit leather to give her a little energy boost until she gets home. Her teacher told her no.

: Her teacher told her to have a big lunch. My dd is 35lbs soaking wet at 5 and a half years old. Skinny as a rail and is constantly eating throughout the day. She does not have a large appetite, but needs refueling almost every two hours. Because she rides the bus she catches her bus at 11:50am and does not get home until 4:30pm. How is this little girls supposed to go 5 hours without eating???? She has lunch at 11:30 at the latest.

I am considering sending a note along with a fruit snack telling her teacher to shove it @#%@#@@, and to allow my dd to eat her fruit snack when she feels she needs it. I am really earked about this. It's rediculous. This is her teacher's last year as she is retiring. My oldest dd had her last year. This woman is a peice of work. She thinks it's the parents responsibility to volunteer so her tables and chairs can be cleaned twice a day. She won't help the kids get their shoes on or coats. She gets quite upset at them if she does have to help. She got upset at my dd because she has trouble drawing freehand pictures. My dd snapped at her and started crying because she wouldn't let up. I got a phone call and told this teacher that dd has trouble drawing and gets frustrated. Anyway, digress.

Should I phone the school tomorrow and tell them that I am sending a snack or write a note, or just leave it?

 

[shelley4]

i would phone (talk to the principal if need be), and send a note as well. my son is the same way.. tall and skinny, snacking all of the time, not huge amounts, but frequently. you need to do what's best for your dd, and if she doesn't eat, she'll be tired and crabby.. which would be more work for the teacher (she does sound like a piece of work!), letting her eat a snack, or dealing with a tired and unhappy child? hey, if it was my kid, i'd send along a soymilk box too

 

[boston]

oh wow, this would really piss me off. I 2nd calling the principal and informing him that you will not allow your dd to go so long without eating, and that in the future they need to plan field trips better. it's unreasonable to do such an excursion with such young kids without a snack!

 

[Book Addict Jen]

CAn you get a dotors not explaining her need to eat at least once in that 5 hour period?

 

[cjr]

I don't feel I need a doctors note. The problem is that they have not allowed a time or place for a snack. Now, I'm not sure if the teacher did this on purpose to avoid the extra work involved in stopping and letting the kids have a snack...or if it's the science centre. Also, the buss company does not allow the kids to eat on the bus. Again, I'm not sure if it's the buss company so much as the driver don't want to have to do any extra tidying up. I think I'm going to send a small, easy snack for her to keep her blood sugars at bay. I will write a note to the teacher and if she has a problem with it to get the principal to give me a call. She's my daughter and I am not going to let her go 5 hours without a snack. That's just insane. And she does get cranky and moody when she's hungry. She difficult to deal with and I don't imagine she feels to good her self. I guess maybe I just needed to be reasured that I'm not overreacting.

 

[alegna]

I second (third?) calling the principal AND sending a note. Knowing teachers (used to be one...) if she's really a piece of work (and boy there are some that are...) she'll ignore the note and tell you dd she can't have the snack. At least if you've called the principal the teacher has someone to answer to. Also mention in the note that you've called (or are calling.) Oh, and say it's medically necessary. That usually makes them listen.

-Angela

 

[Mommy&Will]

Ok, I am totally p'd about this one. Hello???? Kids need refueling more then every 5 HOURS!! Seriously, isn't that a scientific fact?

There's going to be a bus full of cranky children. Poor things.

Call the principal!

I don't know why this made me so upset. But it did. lol.

I guess because I get so tired of the self-absorbed world in which most adults live.

 

[AnnMarie]

Here the kids in K aren't allowed a snack on any day, but they are allowed to bring a drink.

Most people do not like the K teacher, but I believe this is the work of the school, not her. Yet every other class, including 4th and 5th graders get a snack. It just doesn't seem right to me.

I would send both the principal and the teacher a note saying that you, as the mother of your child, are telling both of them and your child that she IS allowed to have the snack provided for her if she's hungry. I might include some info on why kids need to eat more often than every 5 hours. PS sucks!

:

 

[AahRee]

Yikes. I can't imagine a child that age going that long without at least something to put in their tummy. I'd definitely call the principal and send a note for the teacher. But I wouldn't be suprised at ALL if the teacher confiscates the snack and doesn't let her have it. Is it possible for you to go and meet them at the Science Center and make sure she gets her snack? (You shouldn't have to, but just in case - rather than letting your child go hungry?)

 

[cjr]

I phoned and spoke to the principal. He asked if she was diabetic and I said no. I did tell him that she has a high metobolism and needs to eat every couple of hours or she gets cranky and hard to deal with. He said his daughter was the same way and he understood. He asked if she could eat her snack discreatly, and I said I would speak to her as to what the best time would be to eat her snack. He said he would speak to the teacher.

He is a very good principal and I could not tell if this was something he knew about or not. I am hoping he did not know about it and will speak with the teacher about up and coming field trips regarding snacks.

I understand that it's difficult for the teacher to deal with snack messes while on a field trip, but it really is part of the job. If she's afraid that parents won't bring healthy, easy snacks then why does she not just provide them herself? This field trip cost the parents $6.25, I would have been perfectly willing to throw in additional money to have a healthy piece of fruit leather or other healthy quick pick-me-up. Maybe I will speak to her about it myself.

 

[AllyRae]

How horrible!!! I can't believe she can't have one snack...how pathetic... It's not like that fruit leather is going to hurt... I'm glad to hear the principal was reasonable.

 

[iamama]

Put some almonds in her pocket and she can easily be discreet as she put them into her mouth. And they are pretty much no mess!