May I Ask Another Question For All You DC Providers?

[jojosmommy]

We have to have water available at all times, although it doesn't have to be self-serve. My older kids all know where the cups are, and we have water in the fridge. The toddlers usually indicate they want water when they see and older child get it. Last Friday, they had a blast trying to learn how to drink from the hose when they saw one of the older kids doing it. Pretty funny.

I rarely dump out milk, because the food program does NOT require you give them a full serving of milk (or anything) at a meal, rather that you have enough available for a full serving. Unless your food program interprets the rules differently, which seems to be the case sometimes.

I pour a little in each cup, and have plenty available for refills. I have a little pitcher on the table so that the older ones can self serve, and the toddlers can with assistance.

My thoughts exactly!

[Country Kids]

I have many that really don't drink anything all day long. Today I have one been here since 6:30 and hasn't drank anything-milk or water. I don't serve juice so that is their choice not to drink.

[dEHmom]

I just find that kids often don't get enough water. Since I battle kidney stones, I like to make sure kids are getting enough fluid.

I offer a milk program, where kids get 5oz servings of milk. It is $20.00 for 60 servings. I have a sheet with 60 boxes and the child's name. Each time they have a serving I put a dot in that space. Somedays they have all 3 servings, other days they may have none.

Some of the kids, come with juiceboxes and koolaid jammers daily. OR 1 juicebox for the whole day. I don't serve these, if I do I water it down to approx 1/4 juice or 1/3 juice depending on what type of juice it is. For some kids who won't drink water, as long as they can see color in their cup, they are happy.

[Christian Mother]

I have one parent who doesn't want their child drinking milk at all. When the little guy arrives he has a sippy cup full of juice and then I give him gatarade and water through out the day. The gatarade helps hydrate them bc we are in a dry hot state. I only give juice for constipation. My kids are just under 3yrs so they aren't normally constipated but if they are I add apple juice with water in it to help move the system. Mostly we drink water or water and gatarade here.