Do your kids have snack time in school?
By Shar19
@Shar19 (8231)
United States
March 11, 2010 1:01pm CST
In my daughter's school which is an elementary school, the kids have a snack time that is probably about ten minutes each day. The snack time is either in the morning or afternoon, depending on what time the child has lunch and what grade they are in.
Every day I pack my daughter a little snack and juice box or water bottle. At least once or twice a week she comes home with the snack and drink and says that the teacher didn't let them have their snack that day. This happened again just yesterday. This has been going on all school year. My daughter's grade doesn't have lunch until 1:00pm which means if they don't get to have their morning snack which is around 10:30am, then it's been 6 hours without a snack or drink until lunch time. I think this is cruel to make the kids go that long. These kids are only in the second grade.
I have brought this up with her teacher months ago during the first parent/teacher conference. The teacher admitted that she makes the kids have a "working snack" and that sometimes they don't get their snack because she wants to keep working through their lessons. This lady is a work horse in my opinion.
Do your schools have a snack time for the kids and if so, do they get to stop working to eat their snack and how long is the snack time? Do any of your kids have a teacher like this? If so, did you do anything about it? What would you do?
4 people like this
21 responses
@zoey7879 (3092)
• United States
11 Mar 10
My daughter's school sort of has a snack time.
Until this year, they were given a juice or a milk, at the parents expense in the mid afternoon.
This year, they decided that's too unhealthy, and instead, on Fridays are given slices of fruits and vegetables, but the school pays for it. They cited something about the fruit juice and extra milk being unhealthy. *eyeroll* I have a good idea of the hidden agenda in doing this, but I would get accused of things that aren't true if I brought it up in conversation.
2 people like this
@zoey7879 (3092)
• United States
11 Mar 10
At my daughter's school, snacks must be store bought. Milk only at lunch or they must bring water from home with them, because they are not allowed to leave the cafeteria. Students bringing in snacks is usually only allowed for classroom parties at the holidays (which are 20 minutes long) and sometimes for birthdays, but if students have been disruptive, the birthday treats are not allowed to be distributed.
1 person likes this
@babyangie27 (5176)
• United States
11 Mar 10
Yep my daughter has snack time too. And on several occasions she has come back home with it.
But lately she has been getting sick from not eating or something so now her para pro makes sure she has her lunch. I would speak to the principal about it. It doesn't seem right to me.
@babyangie27 (5176)
• United States
11 Mar 10
Headaches is a bad sign,she could pass out from not eating. In my opinion that teacher needs a strong talking to.
1 person likes this
@alicia812 (646)
• Australia
13 Mar 10
Gosh that's no good. Working snack? Snacking
while working on their lessons. I don't think
that is appropriate. Kids need some time away
from their table to wind up, relax, and most
importantly feed their tummy when their hungry.
You should have brought this issue to the school
principal instead Shar.
In my daughter's school they have snack time at
10:30am and lunch time at 1:00.
1 person likes this
@pcserver (392)
•
14 Mar 10
I do not have kids...but this is so unfair and you go and talk to that teacher again. it is not acceptable. kids should have the time to eat..not only to learn. it is vital for them even to have that snack time. You should talk to other parents they may have the same problem and together you might solve it.
1 person likes this
@ada8may21 (2405)
• Philippines
14 Mar 10
Hi Shar, I feel very sad for your kid. She dont have the chance to eat her snacks. That teacher is very bad, why she has that kind of strategy? Anyways, my son is also in 2nd grade of his elementary and they are given a 20minutes break. There teachers are letting them out in the school, so its their time to eat and play at the same time. Thats their only time to break for a moment from the lectures. Because their school believe that if its all lectures and discussions it makes dull life for the kids. As we all know kids also like and need to play. So the school giving them sometime to play for their recreational life.
1 person likes this
@ada8may21 (2405)
• Philippines
15 Mar 10
That would be a good move Shar, good thing you already talked and brought it up to the principal. I hope they will take actions for that. However its already end of the school year now. This issue might be put in trash since schools are busy preparing for the school year end.
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
15 Mar 10
My son isn't in school yet so I'm not sure if they do snacktime here in our schools or not. I'm sure they probably do for the smaller children. If they are supposed to have a snack each day then she should allow them to have it. If it's only 10 minutes...that isn't very long so she could stop working for 10 minutes and let them eat. I know I'm an adult and sometimes I get hungry around 12 something and I have eaten breakfast so I know those little children get hungry too. I would say something again to the teacher. If your daughter still brings home snacks again then I would talk to the principal and see what the problem is. It sounds like the problem is the teacher herself.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Mar 10
my daughter has a nutrition break before lunch and they are supposed to eat part of their lunch at that time (then they have a class then another nutrition break - its not called lunch anymore.) the school also gives out snacks some times as some kids do not eat breakfast.
1 person likes this
@bieke81 (1067)
• Belgium
11 Mar 10
Here they have snack time too. My kids are still in kindergarden (we have three years of kindergarden before elementary school starts) and in those years they normally stop 10 minutes before break to eat their snacks. With the youngest all goes well, but the oldest (who is in his last year of kindergarden) usually comes home with his snacks intact. Because of them starting elementary school next year, the teacher lets them be more independent, which results in him not eating it because he wants to go play. Kids!!
Have a great day
1 person likes this
@nemrac12 (388)
• Philippines
12 Mar 10
In school of my two kids, they have snacks. And snacks means free time for students to eat their food.. and not working while eating? What kind of teacher was that? Is that the policy of their school? Weird!!! If i were you i will go directly to the Principal and if that matter did not resolve, better transfer your child to other school...
1 person likes this
@lifeafterdeath09 (2043)
• United States
12 Mar 10
yes that is true. it is good for kids to have snack time. it will be a healthy source of food at the right times for them to become healthy every day. it is good to have snacks every day. just not too many of them. 
just not too many of them. 1 person likes this
@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
11 Mar 10
Yes, we have snack times here too but they are never skipped. As my daughter has gotten older snack time is now at playtime. The older kids just take their packed snack out into the playground and eat it out there.
If I were in your situation I would approach the teacher again. I think children learn better when they are replenished during a break and it also seems a little inconsistent especially as we are constantly trying to get our kids into a routine. maybe you and some of the other parents could get together and voice your worry about this situation.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Mar 10
not sure what time they haqve snack time at grand daughters school but the parents send something and they take turns doing this.
CHeyenne never brings anything home so I am guessing the do get to et it,
and daughter goes one daqy a month to stay all day well all moring while the glass is going so she sees what is going on.
I would tell her that they need that break awqay from the work helps them do work better I would think even with it being only 10 min!
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
12 Mar 10
i don't think any of our schools have snack outside of kindergarten..
but they usually have lunch much sooner.probably the only ones here they'd let snack are ones with low blood sugar or something like that.
@RachelleNH (1396)
• United States
15 Mar 10
My son eats at 12:15 and is in Kindergarden. They start about 8:30 and eat snack about 10:30 which is in between. Here's what I'd do if it were me-I'd be in that principal's office letting him know that my child can't properly function without that snack/calories for energy. I'd be rallying the troops to get other parents to change this. That's very sad that the teacher doesn't give them even a 5 minutes break to refuel and rethink. They're growing kids for cripes sake 
@tigerlily1972 (502)
• Germany
11 Mar 10
My daughter is in the 1st grade and the class eat Breakfast together! The classes start at 8am. Break at 9:30 - some 15 mins to go to the rest room and run a little outside. They come back to class for their breakfast for some 20 mins.
If my daugter were under that teacher, i would probably report her to the head of the school. He should know!
@goldenrose2 (281)
• India
12 Mar 10
snack time means we commonly understand it evening time or just the time after returning to home. my son knows that after returning from school his mom will give him some testy food whatever he likes.
