Kids bringing snacks to daycare/preschool thoughts?

[CanadianFilly]

When I was picking up my son aged 4 1/2 from his daycare another girl in his group was offering him some yogurt covered items from her hand. I spoke to her but said clear enough so the teacher nearby could hear '(my son) has nut allergies and he can't accept snacks from anyone'. The nearby teacher said something to the girl confirming what I said but as I was putting on his jacket I saw the same girl sharing her snack with another child. I want to know from you other Moms how bad is this?

The facility has 'nut-free' posted all over the place but I know a few parents send their kids with snacks and I'm not feeling very confident that they're sure to send nut free snacks. The thing is these kids help themselves in the afternoon, its not a case where all the kids sit down and so and so has their own snack from home. Even if my son didn't have an allergy I would NOT want the other kids sharing their sugary snacks with him throughout the afternoon.

In general I'm unhappy with this place, its mostly a communication issue. I will speak to the head teacher who is the owner but I'm not feeling confident anything will change. My son has close friends here, he's really happy and in 6 months time he'll be off to school so I'd really hate to switch him to another daycare. Never mind that its really hard to get a spot anywhere where I live so I'm not sure what options I have. I was fuming though after this incident that my mind was racing with possibilities, maybe a half day program and a nanny. My 2 1/2 yr old daughter goes here as well but in a younger group, I would have to move her too if I moved him.

I just want to know how much this would bother other mums? I mean next year in school he's going to have to deal with other kids bringing snacks, I don't know how much they enforce no sharing of food in public school. I did have a discussion with him about why he can't eat food from others but I don't really trust his will power and judgement at this age.

Also if it matters the teacher who I referred to above asked me what would happen if my son had nuts. I feel really doubtful that she would recognize my son being unwell, consider he was having an allergic reaction and know to get his Epi-pen.

There's two issues here for me, snacks from home may not be nut free and the way children are allowed to just take snacks from their back pack whenever they feel like it. Please specify if you would have a problem with one or both of these issues. Thanks for reading!

 

[.Mrs.B.]

We send in a packed lunch and the kids are supervised while eating and I'm pretty sure they don't share. They don't have access to their own food when it's not lunch time.
I would be upset, often parents are unaware of what contains nuts so even a well meaning parent could send in something they shouldn't. The sharing would also bother me (no allergies here though) as I like to know and monitor what my kids are eating.

 

[Scout]

My child's preschool has a specific sit down time for snacks and they don't share. They all get the same snack. I wouldn't like my kid having free access to snacks all afternoon; I don't do that at home and wouldn't want her wondering around while eating either (if that's what you are saying) Eating while playing or doing anything else is mindless eating and can lead to overeating so wouldn't want my dd getting in the habit.

Also, doesn't sit well with me that the teacher is just now asking what would happen, and only did so as a result of this incident. Seems to me that ALL teachers who interact with a child with a serious allergy should have been given the needed information before the child ever stepped foot in their facility.

 

[lau86]

It's supposed to be nut free snacks here too. I only send fruit or salad as snacks so there's no issue. I don't know what other parents do and I wouldn't be happy if the preschool wasn't enforcing the no nut thing.
My dentist has told me the children should eat no more than 4 times a day. That's the ideal for their teeth. I appreciate some children are grazers but for me it should be a sit down snack and then they finish it and move on

ETA and yes if he has an allergy serious enough to need an Epi pen someone should be nominated to deal with that at all times he is there.

 

[c1403]

This is one of the reasons my daughters Pre School have introduced them providing lunch. Some kids were coming in with unhealthy lunches and then sharing them etc.
Now the pre school offers their own lunch and snacks, all healthy and within guidelines. They do not allow sugary drinks or snacks. Some still send pack lunches but they aren't allowed to have certain things.
They also said by providing lunches all the children got involved with meal times, tried new things and there was a lot less waste too. My daughter now likes mushrooms!

In your case I'd speak to the manager, they need to be more viligant with items that could contain traces of nuts. As a parent of a child with no allergies I would still never send them in with anything that contianed nuts.

 

[_jellybean_]

I wouldn't be okay with it. My son has severe allergies...we're almost at 20. Yep, 20. And he goes into anaphylactic shock very quickly. So yeah, I wouldn't be okay with that at all.

 

[redneckhippy]

I also would be very unhappy with that. My son has food allergies, so I provide all his own food for daycare, but they are very careful about making sure he doesn't eat other kids foods. Also, they only eat eat set times. It seem very strange that they let the kids eat whenever they want.

 

[CanadianFilly]

Thanks everyone. I spoke with the director and she promptly sent out an email to all the parents about bringing not snacks in. I'm happy with her response but past experience has taught me to wait for the follow through. I'm sure next week will be great, but things might slide as time goes on. Thanks for all your input.

 

[k4th]

My dd used to take some cereal into nursery in the mornings - she was super grouchy without breakfast but we didn't have time to give it to her properly before leaving for work so she used to take a snack pot. So I have sent "snacks" in. However - if I had any inclination that another child had a severe nut allergy I'd be mortified that I hadn't checked that before sending food in - I think most parents would want to know that information.

I wouldn't want either of my kids helping themselves to snacks during the day either. I know they'd both fill up on them & not eat meals. Plus - as a parent - I want to know what my child had eaten. Pre-schoolers are very kind & im sure share very often, but I would imagine that doesn't get marked down in every kids book.

So even though I have sent breakfast in before now - I wouldn't be happy with the set up you describe and would have stopped if it caused any issues.

(Btw - once dd got into nursery she often only had about three cheerios left!! She just wanted to keep her snack pot for "second breakfast"!!)

 

[MindUtopia]

I would say, yes, this would be a concern for me and I would make an issue of it with the manager and I wouldn't be happy keeping him there if it was something they didn't take seriously, though I understand how it would be difficult to change. So I'd probably just be a thorn in their side until they sorted out their policy on this. At our nursery, they provide all drinks, snacks and hot meals and while we've not been told to not send in snacks as far as I know, I think it would definitely be frowned upon and would probably be raised as a concern. Allergy issues aside, things like that could be a choking hazard especially for smaller toddlers and babies and it's not safe for them to playing and running around and eating food without anyone being aware and supervising it. The only times kids sometimes bring food from home is for a few parents who work early hours and their kids don't always want to eat breakfast at home so early, so in those cases, they get sent in with a breakfast. But the teachers sit them separately at one of the lunch tables while the other kids play and they clean up and put all food away before they can join in with everyone else, so food is kept very separate and not shared. Yes, it would be an issue for me and I would raise it with the manager and put them in touch perhaps with an organisation that educates about food allergies who might be able to provide some guidance on how to better structure their own policies and then enforce them. It's a simple issue to fix in terms of requesting parents not do it and checking their bags if they suspect food is being sent in. It's a health and safety issue all around, plus just not fair to other kids who don't have snacks from home or might not be allowed to eat sweet foods like that or whatever.

 

[amytrisha]

I wouldn't be happy, and my son has no allergies so can't imagine how you feel knowing it could risk his life!
My sons preschool you cannot take food or drinks in, it's all provided there.

 

[kirstybumx3]

Our preschool provides the snack and there is a specific snack time where all of the children sit together to eat. I have on occasions sent Rio with a slice of bread ( ) for them to toast for him because he's refused breakfast lol and that's not been an issue.
Just before Christmas I went on a school trip to the church with preschool and there's a child there who I assume has bad allergies as when the children were given juice and rich tea finger biscuits a nursery teacher gave the girl her own different biscuit and drink and she sat with an adult at the table next to her to avoid 'sharing'.

I don't like the idea of the children walking around eating unsupervised but at 4 1/2 that's not too unusual and kids do tend to like to share. I know in reception (so from September after 4th birthday) here break time includes a snack in the playground and children obviously walk around/share etc so it'll become more difficult when your LO starts school to monitor.