Real Recipes » Featured, Food Thoughts » Candy as Reward at School
Candy as Reward at School
Here is a letter I wrote to my child’s 1st grade teacher regarding their practice of giving CANDY to my daughter and the other students as a REWARD:
Dear Mrs. XXX and Mrs. XXX,
It has come to my understanding that my daughter and her classmates receive candy and sweets as rewards for things at school. I have to request that my daughter be excused from this practice. I believe very strongly that this only hurts her mental and physical health. This might not be the case for other kids otherwise other parents probably would be complaining. We try very hard to only give our children healthy, wholesome, traditional unprocessed foods. By doing so we understand this goes against the norm and this has been a challenge we have had to overcome.
I haven’t wanted my daughter be considered “different” than her peers so I have been ignoring this since the first time she came home with it, but I can no longer allow the candy eating. Since when is it okay to give food rewards in the first place? Isn’t that a well known “no no” with today’s rising child obesity? I am not worried about obesity with my daughter but I see it all around me and it is horrifying. I would be more then happy to donate trinket toys and stickers etc…. to serve as replacement for the candy rewards if that would be of use to you.
Please call or email me any time for any reason about this or any concerns you might have. #XXX-XXXX
Thank you for your dedication and all you do to inspire and teach my little girl, teaching is such a noble calling and must be rewarding.
Sincerely,
Jill XXX
Filed under: Featured, Food Thoughts
The fact that your child’s school did that is so shocking to me. I remember the days when the doctor’s office gave candy to kids too, but that was 30 years ago, and I thought that times had changed enough- that everyone knew better now. Apparently not! Good for you in speaking up to raise awareness about children’s health!
I never understood why some people are so fascinated with giving kids candy, especially without checking with the parents first. To me it is like trying to buy friends – adults know kids go crazy for candy (and after eating it).
Wow, I guess I am not the only parent who wonders when some people, especially those in a position as role models to children as teachers are, will get a clue about candy and sugar. Even if irresponsible adults don’t know the childhood obesity epidemic we face, how about just the fact that candy causes cavities! That is some pretty old news.