Healthy eating for children?

Question

I know people keep complaining that school meals are un healthy and that they need to be improved but what is the point of doing this if the children can't run around and play in the same way as we did in school.....we played had,sticky toffee,football,skipping and so on but most schools won't let the kids play these games ...if they run around there told to stop as they may knock someone over ,no ball games are alloued incase some one gets hit with it ..... surely this hurts the kids in 2 ways

1. they get fat from sitting around all day
2. there is bullying due to boredom

don't we need to educate the teachers and helpers that kids need to play ....run, kick a ball , good old play time fun

to emily_jan i said most schools not all maybe the schools you have visited have the means to proved these items ....i have to children age 13 and 10 they have a pack lunch every day and there primary school does not allowe this kind of play ... they weren't even allowed to play in the snow.... snow ball fights when we had it ....this is kind of play is smiple play that every adult has done as they grew up .....and which every child needs now...... plus i work with children and the amount of them who don't no how to skip or play ring aring rosey is so sad

Answer 1

I agree with your question. Unfortunately we live in a climate where parents are all too willing to take legal actions against schools when minor accidents occur. The result is that schools have no option but to impose restrictions on their pupils. The ideal situation would be to provide additional play supervisors to ensure that children can play in an accident free environment. Of course there is a resource issue and inevitably this means that fewer teachers must run the school in an institutionalised manner. Consequently children miss out on the benefits of quality play-time. Perhaps there is a case to return to the 70's and 80's when play and outdoor time was central to our education.

Answer 2

Actually in schools I have been in recently their is huge effort made to ensure that children to have a good time in the playground, dinner ladies- now known as midday supervisors have training and access to appropriate equipment- balls, skipping ropes, etc to ensure that children aren't bored/ given time to bully, some schools have older playground monitors that the younger children can talk to when they have a problem, or a bench or somewhere they can sit to meet other children who want someone to play with, children with severe behavioural problems may have a LSA go out with the to ensure that they play well. I agree that these methods are not a cure, or available in all schools, but they do help, and I think school staff are far more clued up than you give them credit for. While I am not denying their is a problem, I don't think you have hit on the answer to it.

Answer 3

Well apparently according to Sir Jamie of Oliver, you are a "tosser" and and "arsehole" if you let your kids eat crisps.

Jamie Oliver is the biggest tosser around.

As a kid, yes I did eat crisps and chocolate. I also ate "proper" food (in those days most mums stayed home so it was easier to cook nice meals as they had more time, these days women are under pressure to go out to work and with both parents working 9-5 its really hard to have the time to cook proper meals).

But I was also active. I took ballet classes from a young age, rode horses and ran around in the street, climbed trees in the park etc, went swimming with my dad etc. School sports were shite even then (concrete yard, nice grazed knees!), but I didn't do my exercise at school, I did it out of school.

And no i was never "obese" or any of these stupid words that get bandied around today. I'm 34 and have never been overweight and yes I still eat crisps!

My first baby is due un December and no, Mr Oliver I won't be "banning" him from eating crisps or choc or cake occasionally, but I will make sure he gets plenty of exercise, I'll be taking him to dance classes when he's 2 or 3 and later on my BF is keen to get him into cricket (being a cricket fanatic himself) so we'd encourage him to join a kiddies team. I will also take him swimming and walkign the dogs etc. The School and its sports facilities will no doubt be shite but you don't have to rely on the school. You can do it yourself.

Answer 4

That is true, but it is parents who have sued the school after their blessed little child has fallen over and smashed a tooth in the playground that has resulted in this policy.

Maybe if parents signed a disclaimer, the children could play.
There si nothing to stop the kids being active when they get home?

Answer 5

Beans, rice, fruits and vegetables.

Home prepare their meals. Much healthier than the array of fast food options they are brainwashed into liking.

Answer 6

I agree with you.

Political correctness has gone out of control.