Eating Snacks at School on the Floor

I, too, agree that eating snack on the floor isn't a big deal. As a classroom teacher, my students eat at their desks, but it isn't uncommon to see other teachers reading aloud to their class while they sit around the teacher eating their snack. Throughout the day your child will be exposed to so many germs, I honestly wouldn't be concerned about the floor. As others have said, the best you can do is teach good hygiene. Your son will pick up germs everywhere, from the bathroom, to the playground, and his desk. Kids have been eating snack this way in many classrooms for quite sometime and it hasn't led to any epidemics. Your son will be fine.

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The desks aren't any cleaner. And... instead of just snack/story time, it becomes "one more thing" that the teacher has to prepare before they just sit down and read. She's teaching the kids to find that comfort spot while reading. It's also so important that she develops that, too. She could buy a stack of small rugs but that would be more for comfort and less for the germ factor. Hard surfaces are easier to clean and get cleaned more often.

Anytime you walk into a first grade room it's filled with germs, no matter how vigilant a teacher is. Training the kids to wash their hands is a great thing and it is good that you called. They really should have been doing that already. Also training them to sneeze correctly (in their sleeve-not covering their mouth with their hand) and to not share food and drinks, and to not put objects, like pencils in their mouth, is very important too. And... it doesn't matter if you have the cleanest desk in the classroom either. You just need that one kid who has a low-grade fever who won't cover their mouth when he has that hacking cough or thick runny nose. He should have stayed home. I see it over and over!

Yes, I am paranoid about the N1N1 too but parents need to be more vigilant and not send their kids when they are very obviously sick.

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Hi!
I think you need to relax a bit! This is not the end of the world. There are germs EVERYWHERE in a classroom. I know I was a kindergarten teacher! The kids touch each other's things all the time! As long as they are washing their hands before snack it will help stop some of the germ spreading. Be aware thouggh that your overprotection from germs may be the reason they are all prone to getting sick. KIf they have been too sheltered from germs they have not had an opportunity to build up immunity to some of the illnesses. That is why first year teachers are sick ALL the time. Now that your child is being exposed to all sorts of things he will get sick more until his body builds up a natural immunity. Relax! I would also have him change clothes and wash his hands after school if you want to help protect your little one during cold and flu season!

L.

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Honestly, I would just try and relax about it. The desks aren't any cleaner than the floor. The kids are all picking their noses with their fingers, sneezing into their hands and then touching all the desks, toys....etc. As long as they don't physically put the snack on the tile floor, there isn't much you can do. I understand being paranoid about the swine flu, but it is just a flu. This is flu season and kids get sick. Human beings get sick, it is part of life. There is no way to eradicate every germ out there. He is probably sitting on the floor and eating his snack in his lap, I don't see a problem with that. Washing his hands frequently is the best thing he can do. I would just be sure he washes his hands and maybe changes out of his school clothes before he touches the baby, but that is really all you can do. he can pick up the swine flu virus or any other virus anywhere. You will save yourself alot of anxiety of you just relax a bit and let him be a kid. Teach him good hygiene, but then understand that kids get germy, sick, dirty, etc....Its part of life =)

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HI CS,
I used to teach second grade and my students LOVED sitting on the rug eating while I read. I think it was more of a comfortable.... a cozy feeling for them. My rug often had crumbs on it, but the rug got vaccuumed every night. I just told the kids that if a cracker or something else touched the floor, they had to throw it away.

Really there are so many germs on the tables, desks, pencils, etc.. that they share. Another child uses my daughter's desk when she is in another room for social studies. (She is using someone else's desk for science.)I wish every teacher would sanitize the desks after each day. Or.. why not let the kids use a anti-bacterial wipe on his/her desk before leaving each day. Anyway... back to the snack/rug situation....

Just remind your child to not put the bottom of his hands down on the rug. (Keep his hands in his lap when he isn't using them.)

If it really bothers you, ask if your child could put a placemat down in front of him on the rug. (Remind your child what side of the placemat should always be facing up.) Maybe the other children would like to do this as well. Placemats can be found for a buck or two.

My twins' teachers are great about washing/sanitizing before snack and right before lunch. I ,too,am worried about germs and getting the flu. You have to get it through your children's heads just how importantly it is to wash effectively before eating, using the bathroom, or cleaning off germs in general. Don't just talk about it- Wash the correct way together so they SEE how it's done. Lather up and wash for 20 sec. or more with warm water. Sing the abc's together or the happy birthday song while washing so your boys know when the song is over, then they may rinse their hands.

I would only call if you are still nervous even after recieving all these posts. But, if you do... calmly state your concerns to the teacher. And... ask if your child could use a placemat.

Take care,

J.

In all honesty I think the floor might be cleaner than their desks. Most germs are carried and transferred by hands, which are all over their desks all day. If it really bothers you call the school and then you can rest that you said your peace. But personally I wouldn't call. I would have called though like you did about not washing hands prior to eating. I think this is a very bad habit for kids to fall into. Good luck.

how about suggesting they bring a little towel (or one for him if nothing else) that they sit on rather than the floor? I would send him with one that has a "right" side and wrong side (like a beach towel or small blanket or something with print) so the one side is always to the floor and the "right" side stays clean.

I teach 2nd grade, and I can tell you that the floor may be cleaner than the tops of the desks:) I understand that you are concerned, but I agree with the PP's. Schools are filled with germs, and yo just have to hope that your child is washing his hands with soap and sneezing into his elbow. Good luck!

CS,

I agree with all the posts - HOWEVER, to add my own 2 cents, I like what Amanda had to say about the "rug" idea too.

I am in a similar position at home as you are with a grade schooler, preschooler and infant. I always push the good hygine thing, but let's be real here too! Your kid isn't going to want to be the only one NOT sitting on the floor or asking to wipe down his desk before a snack, that's the grown ups jobs. I am sorry to the people who replied who are teachers - it's not a slam on them. As a parent, I think it's our JOB to protect our kids and speak up for when we see things jeopardizing their health.

BTW - I don't think the Health Department or DCFS would allow kids to eat while sitting on the floor. I know at our preschool they are not even allowed to "rest/nap" on tumbling/yoga mats on the floor that are bleach cleaned after every use - AND THAT'S JUST A NAP! The rule now is that they need to be on cots, off the floor.

I think that you should raise these points with the teacher and nurse of the school. Not to be a "whining parent", but moreso to approach the questions of hygiene and teaching the kids how to stay clean and healthy. I would ask how often the desks are cleaned, if the health department allows kids to eat while sitting on the floors, how often the kids are asked/expected to WASH (not baby wipe) their hands daily, how often are the main school doors, lockers, etc. disinfected seeing as they are highly touched places?

I know some may think that's being petty or unrealistic, but I think that our educators have as much responsibility to teach our kids good hygiene as they do math or reading.

I don't think that you're being overprotective.

Sara