To Snack or Not to Snack
Posted by Kim Murphy on 30 Mar 2009 | Posted in: Classroom Management, Classroom Routines, Teachers and Teaching
I am a constant grazer. In fact, as I write this blog post, I’m nibbling on pretzels and trying to keep the salt from falling between the keys on my keyboard. (Should the keyboard get too gritty, I’ll move on to my cottage cheese or the dried fruit.) Snacktime for me is slightly messy, but basically pretty simple.
In direct contrast, snacktime with a classroom of youngsters is fraught with complications. Food allergies and healthful food requirements can cause oodles of stress! Is snacktime allowed in your school? Do you provide a snack, or do youngsters bring their own? Do you do any cooking activities with your students? Sit back and type me a reply telling me all about your snacktime or lack thereof. Hey, while you’re at it, why don’t you have a little snack!
Your hungry blog cohost,
Kim Murphy
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27 Responses to “To Snack or Not to Snack”
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More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All Comments
This year I teach 3rd and 4th grades. I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had children with food allergies. I tried snack time several years ago. We had it in the morning and students had to bring in a fruit, vegetable, or cheese/crackers. (I chose those things because those are the food groups most children don’t get enough of.) Although it was popular at the beginning of the year, it tapered off quickly and we discontinued it. I do cook with the students at least once a month. However, next year will be a challenge since I’ll have a student with severe milk allergies and one with peanut allergies. So I’ll have to come up with new recipes with the help of the moms, or discontinue cooking altogether.
I thought I was horrible for not allowing my 5th graders to have snacks, but from the comments I’ve read it seems like snacks in schools are all in the primary grades. At first, I did allow my students to bring in “healthy” snacks but soon it became pop-tarts, cake, pizza, etc. They were allowed to have snacks during DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read)and the rules were for 10 minutes they were to read silently and eat their snacks. This was really done not for them but for me….I needed time to get reading and centers ready to go, but soon this time became, bathroom break time, drink time, can I take a reading test on the computer, time to talk and have social hour with their snack so after repeated warnings I stopped snack time and DEAR time rearranged the schedule and at first it was really hard….poor kids had to go from 8:00 in the morning until 12:10 for lunch, but now…it is no big deal and they are used to it…but somedays I wish I could snack
I teach Developmental Preschool in a building that houses childcare, preschool, Head Start, and kindergarten. This year we have a few children with severe nut allergies, so severe that they are rushed to the ER when reaction happens. Therefore, our district made our building is nut free and no longer are snacks permitted. I can no longer cook with my preschool students. It has been frustrating, but we are keeping the health and safety of those children with the allergies in mind. Next year, our whole district will become a nut-free district.
I teach a full day Kindergarten. This year and in past years we have always had morning snack that the students provide each day. Next year I have a child that has air borne allergies. Our whole Kindergarten wing will be food free. Every child will be required to send in $5.00 a month and the mother of the allergy child is going to shop for all snacks. We will see how it works!
I teach second grade and our class gets an afternoon snack only. I have given them animal crackers, and other little treats periodically during morning lesson time. Some of them eat very little or nothing for breakfast, so they have complained of tummy/headaches. I like the idea given earlier about “nibbling” during class, and having the water bottle. We are right around the corner from the water fountain, so they can get some frequently. My students love chocolate!! So, Christmas time was filled with extra chocolate! I will finish this year with having something nutritious handy for them, and hopefully, I can start the year off that way in the fall.
I teach 1st graders. None of my students have any allergies this year, but I have one who can’t eat ham or pork due to her religion. On Dr. Suess’ birthday she could have gren eggs but no ham.
Our county provides free breakfasts to every student (served from 7:30-8:00 am), however my class has a very early lunch (10:57). Some aren’t that hungry yet, so a lot of food is unfortuantely wasted. By 1:30 many are starving!! So I offer parents to send in a personal snack for their child, but many of my families are on free or reduced lunch so they can’t afford or don’t send in snack for their children. I assign each student to send in a healthy snack for the class once a month. I also purchase extra (or have a pot luck day)for days when parents forget. The snacks range from pretzels, to carots w/ ranch dip, grapes or occasional cookies. We eat during our D.E.A.R. time. (Drop everything and read)
I teach a full day Kindergarten in a K-12 school. The students bring in their own snack and drink daily. We have mid-morning snack-time which provides a wonderful venue for the children to socialize in addition to lunch-time. We are a tree nut and peanut free school. Because of additional food allergies in my classroom(eggs) cooking is somewhat discouraged. I have been very careful though and have created recipes using egg-replacer and products not manufactured in a factory where peanut products are made. We are now discussing possibly eliminating birthday treats being sent in because of the risk of cross-contamination. We encourage parents to send in ice-pops or fresh fruit.
We have a preschool and childcare, and our parents rotate bringing in snacks for weekly periods. We have a morning and afternoon snack. When it’s their week, we send home a decorated bag and the children bring it back the following week filled with recommended choices. Some parents improvise which can be great like bananas and nilla wafers, and some not so great like chips and cookies =( . But, we take it all in stride, and for the most part it has worked well. Our allergies are eggs and milk, so those children provide their own snack.
I teach 1st and 2nd grade. I keep a supply of restaurant style crackers that the students can nibble on throughout the day. At recess they can have peanut butter on their crackers. This has helped alleviate tummy aches and headaches especially for those students that don’t get breakfast. I luckily don’t have any students with food allergies. They also keep a bottle of water at their desks.
I teach 4 yr old preschool and have had kids take turns bringing healthy snacks. I also did cooking activities, but they were not always food related. We have made several concoctions such as scented playdough, built a gingerbread house, used cake decorating bottles, etc. I was struggling with what to do next year and really like the idea of each child bringing own healthy snack daily but having backup if neccessary. My schedule changes for next year from 2 full days a week to 4 half days (YES!) so I’ll do a cooking excersise once a week I think.
I teach first grade and we have morning snack daily. Each child brings their own “healthy”
snack. They are not allowed to eat cookies,
candy, chips or have drinks. Sometimes we also eat our snack outside during recess.
We have a daily morning snack but it has become much more complicated due to food allergies and restrictions. Gluten free, tree nut and egg allergies are the most common. Two years ago I had my first child with diabetes so scheduling was a key factor along with the limitations. We try to provide healthy snacks but often they are more of a drain on the budget. This year is the first year parents have sent in some snacks, unsolicited.
We do Fun w/Food at least once a month. Again, some of those have had to change from years past due to allergies.
The children need a snack during the morning session but it is becoming more challenging.