Reply to Child won’t eat in school

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "Child won’t eat in school "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]...DP here. Do you really believe that a kid who ate a breakfast and two more meals after school at home will be hungry? I am not from US, but when I grow up, not too many kids ate school lunches (they were bad) and no one would bring lunch from home (maybe an apple). Everyone one were able to learn and most of us grew up healthy.

OP, have you tried just to ignore it completely? I would continue to pack something small, in case if he changes his mind one day, but would not concentrate his attention on food at all. Feed him with breakfast, and then he can eat lunch at home.[/quote]

Yes, a kid who ate breakfast and then eats 2 more meals after school [b]IS[/b] hungry at school. Research is quite clear that hungry kids do not learn as well as kid who are not hungry and those hungry kids are more likely to have behavioral issues.  Your childhood is anecdotal and irrelevant (although I'm very skeptical that 'everyone' was able to learn).

OP - you've gotten some good suggestions on how things to try. [b] I would also encourage you to contact your DS's teachers if you find he is not eating.  In early ES, and especially in the first weeks of school, there are usually a number of teachers/volunteers helping.[/b]  IME, every single one of those people encourage the kids to eat.  If you give the teachers a heads up, they'll keep an eye out.  I had one DS who, like a PP's DC, needed noise cancelling headphones to eat.  I had another one who didn't eat because of medication.  His teachers were excellent about getting him to at least drink his milk and, during pull out, eat a granola bar I packed for him.  In fact, I gave her a Costco sized box so he and anyone else who needed a snack could have one.  But, you do need to figure out why he doesn't eat. [/quote]

New poster. Came on here to add what PP already said that I've put into bold above. Tell the teacher and also tell the school counselor. Don't make a big thing of it but do let them know that they may see your child is not eating; if you think it will help him to have encouragement from his teacher, then ask that he be encouraged. If he instead would freak out at encouragement from this new adult he doesn't know yet, then say that if he's not eating, the teacher/lunchroom aides/counselor should just let it go. Check back in after the first two weeks or so -- "Is Billy eating anything as far as you can tell?" Be clear that you're not some super-anxious parent who's monitoring a kid's every bite; you're a parent aware of a real issue and asking them for any feedback they may have.

At the same time, please do get him evaluated ASAP and find out the root of the issue and see if it's anxiety or anything else. Better to have him evaluated and rule out things than to do a "wait and see" while he gets worse in the new situation. If you do get any answers like anxiety, then work with the counselor and teacher(s) on how that should be handled by you, him and them, when he's at school.

The posters going on about how "kids won't starve" and "I didn't eat at school and am fine" don't seem to understand that kids who eat breakfast then go a full day of school with zero food (not even milk to drink, OP?), are kids whose blood sugar is sinking and sinking throughout the day. If he won't even drink at school, he is also going to be, not exactly dehydrated, but definitely lacking the right hydration. He also is going from half-day to full-day and that can be a huge change in the energy and concentration levels expected of a child; he may be so faded by the day's end he has trouble getting work done, or acts out. Expect him to be cranky when he gets home. If you plan to drive him to school, have a high-protein snack for him like cheese and really hefty crackers etc. IN the car with you. If he has a bus ride that takes time to get him home, that extends the time he's going without food.

Of course he won't starve if he doesnt' ever eat at school in the next 12 years. But he sure will do better if he can maintain his energy.

The teacher's ideas earlier about practicing with finger foods at home, sending foods to school in the same packaging you've practiced with at home, etc. are great ideas and I'd use them, but I'd also get him evaluated.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics