Anonymous wrote:It's an addiction, pure and simple. Hard to break once it's taken hold.

Rather dramatic. It's caffeine, not meth.

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.

I don't think one a day will stunt her growth. It may stunt your wallet though. And the extra calories will add up unless she is physically active.

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

No, caffeine does not stunt growth.

OMG! Iam so glad you posted this!! Now I can let my 4y old drink coffee or milk with drops of coffee without any guilt. I am not from this country and grew up drinking cafe au lait everyday for breakfast -a long with french roll, cheese and butter. I am not addicted to coffee at all and do well without a cup of coffee per day. I don't give my child coffee because of the growth stunt claim I heard for the first time after coming to this country. But every year when we go visit family "back home" she is allowed to have coffee - they even bought her her little, tiny coffee "mug." I always felt so much guilt about it…

She loves it. Her mug allows for about 1oz I am guessing.

Anonymous wrote:They get to try new drinks and have someone fix it just for them. They get a buzz. They go to be seen. Their friends will likely be there, they socialize. Sound familiar? What don't you understand about this picture?

Why do you fund it? What do you think they're learning from all this?

They get to try new drinks and have someone fix it just for them. They get a buzz. They go to be seen. Their friends will likely be there, they socialize. Sound familiar? What don't you understand about this picture?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I doubt these kids are earning this kind of cash.

Whether or not you allow it is your parenting decision, however "caffeine stunts growth" is an old wives tale that has been long debunked. When I was a high schooler, I enjoyed hanging out at coffee shops for the same reasons adults enjoy hanging out at bars...to be social, hang out with friends, and perhaps have a nice drink while doing so--except alcohol is illegal when you are a teen, so instead I drank coffee or hot cocoa or whatever. Sometimes I would have dates with boys at coffee shops, because it was less pressure than going to a movie or getting dinner, and gave you more time to chat and legitimately interact, however it was in public, so things couldn't move too quickly as they could in someone's basement. I also started drinking coffee in high school because I was legitimately tired getting up for school after staying up late to study, do sports, practice my instrument, etc.

It's an addiction, pure and simple. Hard to break once it's taken hold.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So for those that think it's not a good idea, am I being too strict by not allowing this? The poster in the other thread got flamed as too strict for not allowing her teenager soda. I would think this is no better.

I'd say it depends. In your child's social group, is this really an "everybody does it" thing? Or is it a few kids who do it? If just a few, then I don't think you're being too strict by saying no. If the vast majority really do do it, I'd consider letting her participate (with her own money) and perhaps limiting it - e.g. you can go hang out but you can only buy one drink every other week, or whatever. I wouldn't want my kid starting her day with all that sugar and caffeine, so I'd limit it on those ground, but I wouldn't say "no, never" if it really was part of the social aspect of her crowd.

You might also consider getting her Starbucks paraphernalia for gift-giving occasions so she can take tea or water or hot cocoa (from home) in a Starbucks-branded cup. I don't think that sort of thing is required, but it's nice not to have to be odd-man out especially in middle school so I'd consider ways to let her be "part of the crowd" while still following your overall beliefs about health, independence, and financial decisions.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So for those that think it's not a good idea, am I being too strict by not allowing this? The poster in the other thread got flamed as too strict for not allowing her teenager soda. I would think this is no better.

I do not think you're being too strict. If your child is hanging out with friends after school and has a Frappucino for snack or something, no big deal, as long as it's a once in awhile thing. But every morning before school? No way!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So for those that think it's not a good idea, am I being too strict by not allowing this? The poster in the other thread got flamed as too strict for not allowing her teenager soda. I would think this is no better.

Well, that depends. Who pays for it? Does it interrupt any routine/obligations? Is it a forbidden fruit, so to speak? Is it a daily habit? Or is it an occasional treat?

We live on a budget, so that solves the problem right there. Adults in our house get a coffee shop treat about 3x per month. As kids mature I think that having the occasional coffee treat is reasonable as well, until or unless they are independent and choosing to spend their own money on it every day. If a kid really wants to start drinking coffee, allow them to make their own decaf at home and no sugar added.

OP here. So for those that think it's not a good idea, am I being too strict by not allowing this? The poster in the other thread got flamed as too strict for not allowing her teenager soda. I would think this is no better.

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.

May not stunt growth, but I don't need to aid and abet a stimulant addiction for my kid.

When I taught middle school in a well-to-do district, Starbucks was a "thing," as was meeting up at the local non-chain coffee shop for pre-school breakfast dates. I think it's ridiculous - the expense and the unhealthiness of the drinks (they were much further along the Frappucino path than black coffee with skim milk) but like many PPs said, it made them feel grown up.

Also, some of those kids probably legit needed the caffeine - I used to hear all the time about how they were up til midnight or later. For some it was extracurriculars and homework, for others texting. Regardless, most of them were up by 6:00. That's not a lot of sleep.

They want to walk around with Starbucks cups like adults do.