First Day of Kindergarten - Lunch/Cafeteria advice needed please

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I was finally relaxing last night with the TV on and see a commerical that made me almost cry. A girl walks into a cafeteria, appears to not know anyone, sits down and opens her lunch box and sees a note from her Mom "love you, Mom" or something like that and I almost burst into tears. My DS will be starting kindergarten in 2 weeks and this commerical made me think about lunch-time. DS will not know anyone and I am wondering about him making friends by lunch to sit and eat and also what to pack food in and are notes ok or will he be made fun of? And what sorts of food do parents make for kids now?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I just posted about my DS starting preschool and worrying about him dropping his lunch. I am so right there with you, momma. Hugs!

[Anonymous]

Mom of a fellow rising kindergarteners (mine are twin girls).

Our school had a playdate for rising kindergarteners to all meet and play on the playground. Within ten minutes all the kids were playing as if they had known each other all their lives. There is no chance your son won't have met another kid by lunch time that he can sit with.

[Anonymous]

My ds was in K last year. here is what I learned...

Don't pack too much. They only have 25-30 min to eat and spend most of it talking.

Make sure they can open everything that you pack. Even with an aide helping, it is impossible to get to every kid.

The good thing abut K is they are all new so they def make friends easily! although, my ds took a bit longer to have
good friends, but he got there! I sent notes and those always were a big hit! The first month was a little rough just because he was so tired and getting used to being in "big kid school". He also liked it when I would come tonhave lunch with him...which was only a few times a year but it was a good chance to see how the whole cafeteria scene works.

GL!!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much! I was doing ok with the whole transition - until this stupid commerical last night. It never once crossed my mind that he will have to find friends he is comfortable eating with! and what do I pack? and are notes ok? LOL. I am hiding ALL of this from him too. We are all smiles about kindergarten but when I saw that commerical I felt like I was going to kindergarten for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much! I was doing ok with the whole transition - until this stupid commerical last night. It never once crossed my mind that he will have to find friends he is comfortable eating with! and what do I pack? and are notes ok? LOL. I am hiding ALL of this from him too. We are all smiles about kindergarten but when I saw that commerical I felt like I was going to kindergarten for the first time.

Cut the cord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much! I was doing ok with the whole transition - until this stupid commerical last night. It never once crossed my mind that he will have to find friends he is comfortable eating with! and what do I pack? and are notes ok? LOL. I am hiding ALL of this from him too. We are all smiles about kindergarten but when I saw that commerical I felt like I was going to kindergarten for the first time.

Cut the cord.

You're hella mean.

[Anonymous]

15:27 - the cord is cut. He has been in daycare since he was 4 months old. But I needed some helpful info about lunch - which I received from everyone but you.

[Anonymous]

You are so sweet and such a good momma to care so much! DS is lucky to have you!

[Anonymous]

There was another thread on this , I think it was in General Parenting, and someone suggested having your child practice opening everything you would normally pack for lunch prior to the start of school. I never thought about that but it sounds like good advice.

[Anonymous]

Your kid's class will have two or three assigned tables that seat 8-12 kids or so, and everyone will just sit wherever. Kindergarten kids aren't really that cliquey or particular, especially in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

I would imagine that the teachers with getting kids to the lunchroom and the.entire Lunch process. No?

[Anonymous]

During the first few months of school, come by and have lunch at the school with him. Almost all of the publics permit/encourage this. Call the school office to check on logistics, exact times, etc, before you show up. And make a regular appearance at least evry term.

[Anonymous]

For the parents that suggested I have lunch with DS. Will that make him look like a dork? I am an older Mom and have no idea what parents do these days, but I would have hated my Mom showing up at at school (but maybe that was later in middle school)...

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten kids aren't really that cliquey or particular, especially in the beginning.

I agree. I think the commercial is portraying a problem that an older kid would face coming into a new school, and putting a younger kid into the situation to make it more heartwarming. Most kids are still fairly indiscriminately friendly at the K stage, especially in the beginning.

In terms of food, my son wanted PBJ every single day. But since he goes to a nut free school, he had sunflower butter and jelly instead.