A Father requests a teacher in montessori to keep a check on snacks as his son is overweight. How to handle?

Question

A Father requests a teacher in montessori to keep a check on snacks as his son is overweight. How to handle?

Answer 1

Since snacks are handled in different ways in different Montessori environments, there is not a clear straightforward answer to this question.

If snacks are in single servings, it would be fairly easy to monitor, or if the children get snack only one time it should be fairly easy.

On the other hand, if snacks are more open-ended, like a bowl of pretzels from which the children get what they want, the father's request may be harder to meet.

In nearly any Montessori environment, it should be possible for the family to send the snacks that they want to child to eat. This is what happens with several children in my environment. Each has food issues of one kind or another. The family sends the snack for the child to eat each day. That way THEY are responsible for monitoring the food intake of their own child.

Answer 2

As a Montessori teacher, I would suggest starting by looking at how snacks are obtained in the Montessori classroom.  Also look at state guidelines for your snacks and compare it with those.

Ohh...see?  You still have to research to get the answer, but that's a point in the right direction.

Matt

Answer 3

Well I think you should see every day what the child is eating and tell his father. And if you see the child eating junk food tell them to stop eating it or make it a rule in the montessori that you can only eat healthy food afterall there are many overweight people

Answer 4

If a father requested this action, then it could be done.   The Childs caregiver can watch what he eats and the caregiver can also suggest that the father bring snacks appropriate for the child.  Every snack is watched by the careprovider and there will not be anything given to children that is not healthy.  Children should also control snacks at home and not just at the daycare.  Best of luck.

Student for ECE(early childhood eductation)  I just learned this from one of my classes.

P.S. My boys ages 14 and 15 never ate junk food or soda as children untill they were 12 years old, and even then I keep other drinks at home that do not contain sugar.  It works, my children rather drink water that soda, they don't like the taste very much.  They also don't crave junk food, mayve once in a great while wich is fine with me.  I hope this work for you.

Answer 5

I think if the father requested it, then the teacher should remember if there is a celebration that it involves snacks then do not let the child have it. I do this for my daughter, I told the teacher not to let my child have any sweets and she has gets water with their celebrations. The teacher remembers that she is not aloud to have it and offers her a homework pass or something else.  Sometimes I have to remind my daughter it is only for your benefit and I am not doing this to hurt you. She is by far from being overweight, I just want her to have good eating habits and that you can live without junk food or sweets.

Answer 6

Keep a notebooks or piece of paper on the wall somewhere we're staff can get to-write down everythign the child eats including rough portion size....writing the time might help the father as well. MAke sure this is taken down at the end of session to keep info confidental.

Else ask the father what ideas he has for how to keep check.