Who's footing the bill for their Starbucks 'addiction?'

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Isn't the caffeine harmful to their growing bodies? I don't want to be the super strict mom, but the thought of giving my kid Grande Frappuccino's seems unhealthy.

Caffeine is not harmful to teenagers, at least not an occasional coffee. Of course a Grande Frappucino isn't healthy, it has tons of sugar and fat. But again, an occasional sugary/fatty beverage isn't going to harm a kid.

But if we're talking about a daily routine of expensive Starbucks drinks, I'd worry more about teaching the value of money and how much they're spending. If your kid is getting one a day, we're talking close to $100 a month or $1200 a year on one drink per day. That's the lesson I'd try to teach here. Unless weight/diabetes is an issue for your kid, I think the caloric value of Starbucks is secondary to other issues it represents.

OP pick your battles, if your kid is 'only' hanging out at Starbucks you're pretty lucky

Anonymous wrote:They want to appear like adults.

This. And of all ways to do it, hanging out at a coffee place seems very harmless to me.

Anonymous wrote:I have a soon to be 14 yr old daughter who's private school classmates are constantly drinking coffee. We've always restricted caffeine as it was my understanding it stunts growth. Is this no longer the case? Even the wealthy school kids are all being dropped off in the morning with their "starbs". Apparently this is a socially acceptable thing to allow your middle schoolers to do? Please help me understand this fad.

I bet you that every one of those Starbucking kids has two (mostly) absentee parents who have more money than time to throw at their kids.

They want to appear like adults.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't buy my kids starbucks because it's expensive and full of sugar, but if they want to make themselves coffee in the morning before school, who cares... as PP said, caffeine does not stunt growth.

BTW with the availability of up-to-date research on the internet I really don't think you should make parenting decisions based on your mistaken "understanding" of anything until you check yourself with a quick google search. Seriously this is so easy, there's no excuse for not doing it. Unless you're more interested in feeling superior than making evidence-based decisions, which from the tone of your post sounds like may be the case.

Your point is a good one, though no need to be condescending. Many parents in their 40's tend to forget that every single thing can be easily researched. I will say, that I always grew up hearing "caffeine stunts your growth" so it's not an uncommon assumption.

I agree with you, that the expense and sugar are good reasons to avoid. I also think it's not wise to get hooked on caffeine, especially at an early age. Kids should not need stimulants to make it through their day. Lastly, I try to avoid status symbols with my kids. I don't need them to keep up with every social trend or fad, and I think it's healthy for them to be deprived here and there. Snort, as if not getting Starbucks daily even makes a kid "deprived." What I want to know is why it is so freaking hard for us as parents, to just say no to our kids?!

I wouldn't buy my kids starbucks because it's expensive and full of sugar, but if they want to make themselves coffee in the morning before school, who cares... as PP said, caffeine does not stunt growth.

BTW with the availability of up-to-date research on the internet I really don't think you should make parenting decisions based on your mistaken "understanding" of anything until you check yourself with a quick google search. Seriously this is so easy, there's no excuse for not doing it. Unless you're more interested in feeling superior than making evidence-based decisions, which from the tone of your post sounds like may be the case.

OP here. Isn't the caffeine harmful to their growing bodies? I don't want to be the super strict mom, but the thought of giving my kid Grande Frappuccino's seems unhealthy.

idk I hate Starbucks. It always tastes burnt to me. Kids are dumb.

Its so many things tied into one. Its a social thing, its a status thing, its a habit, its a treat, its a pick me up etc etc.

adults are obsessed with it too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/18/health/18real.html?_r=0

No, caffeine does not stunt growth.

My dd is getting hot chocolates there.

I have a soon to be 14 yr old daughter who's private school classmates are constantly drinking coffee. We've always restricted caffeine as it was my understanding it stunts growth. Is this no longer the case? Even the wealthy school kids are all being dropped off in the morning with their "starbs". Apparently this is a socially acceptable thing to allow your middle schoolers to do? Please help me understand this fad.