am i just being a moaning mum

[big miss nails]

I don't have children but remember when i was at primary school we were allowed to eat our packed lunchs on the grass if we wanted to (summertime only) also there would be a teacher sat with us to make sure we didn't start messing about !

Was your daughter supervised ?

yes she's supervised by the dinner lady but to be honest i think the kids supervise her!if their was grass or tables i wouldnt mind but sat on the floor.what would people think in years to come when my daughter just sits on the floor and starts eating imagine if it it's a busy street

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Well I guess at the end of the day we all try and do what we feel is right for our children. If you really don't want them to sit outside to eat then that's your prerogative as a parent.

But I do think it's a real shame. And where does it end? That they can't do outdoor sports in case they come in contact with germs - sorry I've gone a bit extreme here but I think you get the drift.

They do say that our immunity is going down because we disinfect everything in sight and don't let our children get dirty in case they come into contact with germs.

I'd just be more concerned that they are eating a healthy well balanced diet and can eat with manners, rather than worrying too much about where they are eating it.

(BTW dogs aren't allowed in schools, so no fear of them fouling the playground)

 

[VHunter]

I'm not so worried about germs as 'dirt' like broken bottles, animal feces and such.. just generally dirtying the clothes and making for bad habits. And with me, it's more about 'habit' than anything else. Hey, I never sterilized my bottles when they were wee ones LOL If good old soap and water is good enough for me, then the same for them, no matter the age :wink2:

As for dogs not allowed in schools.
No, they're not.
But we have not one, but 3 schools within walking distance. Two elementary, and one secondary. There are ALWAYS dogs being walked on the premises outside school hours on the elementary's. For the secondary, because of the football fields and track fields.. anyway, there are always dogs no matter the hour. There are 'no dog' signs, but there are still dogs. I see very few owners with bags in hand for any mess.

Also, condoms and other nasty paraphenalia are often found on the grounds, at the elementary schools as well AND even in the playground at the end of my street.
At the elementary school, I was rather surprised at how few adults there were to supervise the youngun's, and with the yard as huge as it is... there is NO WAY that each child is supervised. The numbers are just impossible.

Maybe it's different in the UK, but.. I think there were maybe 4 adults in the yard for ummmmm 200 (likely much more since there are 20-30 kids to a class, and 6 grade levels in that school) or so kids?

So, not so much about germs for me. Just the possibility they might sit/ingest dog poo by accident, and otherwise stain their clothes. Granted, still not crazy about them putting dirty hands in their mouths, but that won't be the end of them either:wink2:

Heck, we survived our upbringing without carseats and all kinds of things LOL:lol:

 

[Hope]

Our school is totally secure and it is not used out of hours, so we don't have any of the problems that you mention Victoria.

I can see your point of view if these things were in my children's playground I wouldn't want them to be eating off of the floor xx

 

[ValencianNails]

what would people think in years to come when my daughter just sits on the floor and starts eating imagine if it it's a busy street

That's taking it a bit far isn't it?

It's up to the school to educate children and supervise them during school hours but it's up to you, as the parent, to try your hardest to bring your children up to be well-rounded individuals... to encourage your children to try new things, even if it goes against your personal priciples... like your current dilemma... who is it hurting?

Before too long they'll all be inside eating their lunches as it'll be too cold/wet for them to eat it outside.

 

[fificharlie]

Blimey Geeks!!

A bit of dirt never hurt anyone. I used to love sitting on the grass as a kid, eating my lunch, kids are kids - you cant expect them to be pristine and actually care about dirt, untill they pay for thier own clothes and do thier own washing THEY AINT GONNA GIVE A STUFF!! lol!

I can understand about all the nasties on the floor etc - but if that is the extent i.e condoms and dog doo - then I would get onto the school to clean it up!!!

I think its a good idea to have benches for children to sit on, but is it really THAT much of a prob if your child gets a grass stain????

As for 'my daughter might just sit in the street and start eating when shes older' comment - its completely rediculous - unless thats what you teach her to do!!!

Let kids be kids. Dont give a stuff if they get dirty. thats my opinion anywhoo!

 

[*JOANNE*]

thats why i sit on the floor in macey dee's to eat my burger...doh
in all seriousness as long as she is eating her lunch, and has time to eat her lunch, she is socialising then i dont see a problem where she eats it,
and if its messing her uniform up by sitting on the floor eating, you wanna see the state my 3 boys come home in...quick cycle wash, blast through the dryer...done clean uniform again.

 

[1999judy]

I'd just be happy that my daughter actually ate something.

 

[Snugglepuss]

I understand your concern and that you only have your daughter's best interest at heart and it lovely to see you caring and wanting the best for her

The truth is though, that benches and picnic tables aren't hygenic! When we were on our holidays the tables outside the pubs/restaurants were full of seagull poo

The tables in the dining room won't be spotless either - children don't always wash their hands properly after going to the toilet - and then they touch things, dishcloths hold lots of germs - the list goes on!- the world is full of nasties and you can't avoid them all at least we don't have the plague :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[kittenclaws]

when my kids are in the house they are only allowed food and drink in the kitchen/diner but when they are out and about they can eat on the ground or up a tree as long as they are not eating loads of junk and they are being good, i would rather they be out enjoying fresh air rather than stale air con
kids are kids they love getting dirty, even when they dont mean to, i remember making mud pies in the garden with my kids

 

[Bev Rose]

I am a mother of 2 - 1 girl aged 13, 1 boy aged 11.

Kids are kids!

When they were little babies & toddlers I tried my utmost to keep them 'in a bubble' & keep them clean.

When my daughter Courtney started toddler group (aged 13 now) i used to watch everything she picked up and if there was a kid there with a runny nose i'd watch him and see which toy he had shoved in his mouth and wiped snot all over & if Courtney made any move towards the 'snotted toy' i'd be there like a flash & whip her out of the way & move the offending toy under the table!!!!!!!

These day's i just have to let them be, they can't be kept in a bubble all the time.
We cannot alienate our kids or segregate them from their friends because of stuff like sat eating whilst sat on the floor!

It's not as though she tips her lunch box onto the floor then proceeds to eat off of that! I'd have a problem with it too.

Kids these days need as much fresh air as possible. They spend too much time when older 'excersing' their thumbs on playstations & other video games & not enough time outside IMO.

 

[big miss nails]

it's not her getting her uniform dirty that bothers me she's worse than my boys for getting dirty clothes..it's just the fact i didnt think sitting on a playground floor wasn't very hygineic.

 

[big miss nails]

Blimey Geeks!!

A bit of dirt never hurt anyone. I used to love sitting on the grass as a kid, eating my lunch, kids are kids - you cant expect them to be pristine and actually care about dirt, untill they pay for thier own clothes and do thier own washing THEY AINT GONNA GIVE A STUFF!! lol!

I can understand about all the nasties on the floor etc - but if that is the extent i.e condoms and dog doo - then I would get onto the school to clean it up!!!

I think its a good idea to have benches for children to sit on, but is it really THAT much of a prob if your child gets a grass stain????

As for 'my daughter might just sit in the street and start eating when shes older' comment - its completely rediculous - unless thats what you teach her to do!!!

Let kids be kids. Dont give a stuff if they get dirty. thats my opinion anywhoo!

i dont teach my daughter to sit on the floor to eat..its the school who are teaching her to sit on a floor to eat so if she does when she's older that wont be down to me

 

[~shelley~]

she wont just sit on the floor & eat, she might ask if she can sit on a bench or some grass but she will know that its different at school - kids arnt stupid - she will know the difference.

I wouldnt mind if it was my daughter - im not a minger but i let her get dirty (im funny about public toilets seats though lol haha) she went digging for worms today lol but then i just wash her clothes & stick her in the bath - she probably picks up loads of Germs every day but Honestly in over 3 years since she was born she has bee poorly twice!!

In the summer she even sits in the garden on the grass & eats her lunch!!

Kids are kids xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[fificharlie]

i dont teach my daughter to sit on the floor to eat..its the school who are teaching her to sit on a floor to eat so if she does when she's older that wont be down to me

The school are NOT teaching her to sit on the floor - they are allowing the children to enjoy their food with the nice weather. Of course it would be down to you if she started eating on the floor!! What a rediculous thing to say!!

You bring your child up more than the school does. I didnt mean you 'literally' teach her to sit on the floor!

lol - hope you didnt take my post the wrong way, but all this rubbish about 'she might sit on the floor to eat when shes older' is just plain silly!

 

[*JOANNE*]

i dont teach my daughter to sit on the floor to eat..its the school who are teaching her to sit on a floor to eat so if she does when she's older that wont be down to me

thats being a bit daft...wot at 30 she is going to sit on the floor in a restuarant when she goes out.....alot of us have sat on the grass to eat or sat on the floor in assemblies doesnt mean we do it now oh and nor does it cause piles, if thats worrying anyone....pmsl

 

[big miss nails]

The school are NOT teaching her to sit on the floor - they are allowing the children to enjoy their food with the nice weather. Of course it would be down to you if she started eating on the floor!! What a rediculous thing to say!!

You bring your child up more than the school does. I didnt mean you 'literally' teach her to sit on the floor!

lol - hope you didnt take my post the wrong way, but all this rubbish about 'she might sit on the floor to eat when shes older' is just plain silly!

no i dont "literally make my daughter sit on the floor otherwise iv just wasted alot of money buying a new setee"lol
i think sometimes i read things the wrong way and when it comes to my kids im very defensive.i guess most mums are
its just none of my friends kids who go to diffrent schools do this and i was just a bit concerned.a few replys have made me realise that i was proberly a bit overproctetive.i guess they might aswell make the most of the good weather

 

[big miss nails]

thats being a bit daft...wot at 30 she is going to sit on the floor in a restuarant when she goes out.....alot of us have sat on the grass to eat or sat on the floor in assemblies doesnt mean we do it now oh and nor does it cause piles, if thats worrying anyone....pmsl

my dad always use to tell me this when i was a kid

 

[Bagpuss]

i just wish my kids would eat there packed lunch....lol...most of the time they come back with 1 bite from the sandwich, half a packet of crisps, yogurt drink half drank and the rest all inside the lunch box, ate all there cheese string and didn't even entertain the apple !!!!. x

 

[natzdanutta]

oh dear think this thead is gettin out of hand a likkle! now now ladies!!