Snacking at school

[Guest guest]

Kathy

I don't know if it is allowed in your school, but my son has always had a

container on his desk with a variety of snacks. Now they sell those

containers (with partitions in them) from Glad (I think it's that company).

Well we have it here in Canada, you probably do in the States as well. But

they are certainly cheaper than tupperware. But that would do as well.

Anyway, the idea is to give a large variety of snacks and he can pick or

choose. I think the best idea is to have him munch at his desk while he

works (that's why the container is better than a lunch bag, where the child

becomes distracted and is rooting through a nap snack for a snack, then

rustling paper as the snack is opened. If everything is already " open " in

the container; then he will not be disruptive).

The other idea is to have designated eating times. That didn't work for my

son. His teacher one year was real upset at me, she said " he should snack at

recess like all the other kids do (and this was in grade 5) but he will open

his snack 5 minutes AFTER recess. This won't do " she told me. Ha I told her

pretty fast that for Adam, he eats when he IS HUNGRY. That does not go by a

clock.

Salem(Brock) got me on the idea of the partitioned container. You

could also have a juice box beside him. Hopefully the teacher will see the

wisdom of that (it's less responsibility for her, than having to remember to

tell him to snack every 2 hours). The IEP would/could state " snacks from

home are to be available to him at all times of the day. "

Lastly, as for lunch. Try playing that one by ear. I taught grade 1 several

years ago and I remember the first week of school every single parent coming

to me and saying " ny isn't eating " . It was the same for all of

them....the kids get so distracted by each other (a new experience eating

lunch together) that they forget to eat themselves. See how it goes at first

with the normal time (I decided, as the grade 1 teacher, to start my entire

CLASS 10 minutes early, also I was still in the room at that point so I

could ensure they at least got their sandwiches eaten, before I left for my

lunch hour). But if you find your son is not eating, then you can petition

for him to be taken to another room 10 minutes earlier to begin his lunch.

In that case, during the IEP meeting now you might have added " lunch times

will be adjusted depending on the child's needs...eg. extended time if it is

warranted " . That way it is covered now, for later, if you need it.

Good luck!!

Debby

Debby Baillargeon

Special Education Teacher

St. 's Catholic School

416-3935300

debby.baillargeon@...