DD kinder - didn't eat lunch on first day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send lunch! No five year old know how to navigate the chaos of lunch lines. Everyone knows this, what's wrong with you?

The teachers and lunch ladies are there to help the first week. Everyone I talked to encouraged me to have DD buy lunch at least once the first week of school while there were people available to help. She did, without issues.

Now I'm conflicted (I'm a NP). I also have a kid starting K soon. I was going to have her buy lunch at first, since I assumed there'd be more help the first few days. I want her to learn to navigate the line and how it all works since I'd prefer she buy than me pack lunch. But now this thread has me thinking I need to pack her lunch! Her school is big (5 or 6 classes a grade) and I'm not sure if they are alone or with other classes when they eat....

PP parent of high schoolers here and many time lunchroom volunteer. There will always be someone to help in the lunch line. But I think it’s less stressful for the kids to bring lunch the first couple of weeks because they sit down immediately rather than trying to find their table and a place to sit after going through the buy line. Most of the kids are already sitting at this point. The lunch room is chaotic and loud and multiple grades eat at the same time or overlap a bit. Let your kid get familiar with their surroundings, make a buddy or two and then have them buy. Even if you don’t do this, rest assured it will all be fine. They will figure it out no matter what they do.

Ok definitely good advice. Thank you! And for patiently answering a newbie K mom's concerns!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send lunch! No five year old know how to navigate the chaos of lunch lines. Everyone knows this, what's wrong with you?

The teachers and lunch ladies are there to help the first week. Everyone I talked to encouraged me to have DD buy lunch at least once the first week of school while there were people available to help. She did, without issues.

Now I'm conflicted (I'm a NP). I also have a kid starting K soon. I was going to have her buy lunch at first, since I assumed there'd be more help the first few days. I want her to learn to navigate the line and how it all works since I'd prefer she buy than me pack lunch. But now this thread has me thinking I need to pack her lunch! Her school is big (5 or 6 classes a grade) and I'm not sure if they are alone or with other classes when they eat....

Wait until day 3 or 4 and have her buy lunch. Make sure she knows she's buying and make sure she knows to ask the aide for help if she doesn't know what to do. Maybe even send a note to the teacher saying she's buying lunch for the first time today and may need help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you truly believe that school let your 5 year old go without lunch? I see a long road ahead for you...

Yes. When DS was 6, the music teacher didn't believe him when he said he had to go potty and wouldn't let him go. He peed his pants.