Any other parent think this is unsanitary?

[tiggerlover]

DS's teacher has sent a note home for the 100th day of school celebration. She wants the kids to make homemade granola in class and has asked that each student count out 100 pieces of cereal or raisins or nuts or something for the granola and bring it to school so they can mix it and eat it. This just gives me a mental picture of a child who hasn't washed his hands counting out food with his hands and then all these kids bringing their food to a community granola bowl sharing granola and germs. I know if it were me, I would make sure I clean down the counting area and make DS scrub his hands, but you can never be sure about others. Am I just ultra sensitive here or does this sound like it could be a little unsanitary?

 

[lynxstch]

to think that this is unsanitary..IT IS!..especially in this season with the bad flu going around..what is this teacher thinking?

 

[Disfan1]

Ick! I don't think I would want any granola! How old is your DS? When my DS was in elementary school, I saw an awful lot of grubby faces and hands among his friends (heck, I still see that in middle school now!) I think a better idea would be to bring the boxes of raisins, cereal, nuts, etc to school, have everyone in class wash their hands THEN count out the items. That way the teacher knows everybody's hands are clean when they handle the food.

 

[lilboo]

COUNT out 100 little food pieces? I understand it's the 100th day celebration but surely she could've come up with something else to make that "100" connection...

 

[cadburysmom]

Yes, I agree it does sound unsanitary.......nonetheless, my child has done this several times at his school and the kids all love it! The school does send home a note to wash hands before counting, etc... but you know no matter what they do, it's going to be full of germs galore!

I know this doesn't help much, but at least this will help with your child's counting skills and he'll have fun too!

 

[epcotfan]

Gross

 

[piratesmate]

I've never been too fond of this activity for that very reason...and it ALWAYS falls during flu season.

I do know that at DD's school the teachers gave detailed instructions to the children about washing properly beforehand, using a spoon to count out the items, etc. However, the note that was sent home didn't mention sanitary considerations & you can bet that many of the children didn't remind their parents.

 

[robinb]

Since you asked, I think you're being ultra sensitive. Any parent with half a brain would have their kid wash their hands before handling food for a class. And, even if they don't, kids are likely to pick up germs and viruses with every other single thing they touch in the world. I wouldn't worry about it. {shrug}

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Disfan1
How old is your DS? When my DS was in elementary school, I saw an awful lot of grubby faces and hands among his friends (heck, I still see that in middle school now!) :

DS is 7 and his classmates are 7,8 and 9. I have seen some of these kids (and their parents) and I have cleanliness concerns...it just grosses me out. I was thinking about sending a note to the teacher, but I wasn't sure if I should.

 

[CamColt]

Suddenly the 100 day project that I thought was torture for DS and I to do, seems a lot better now. Thank goodness hes not doing the granola thing. Yuk!

 

[Mishetta]

My son had to do that too last year & I did make sure he washed his hands before he counted out the mini marshmellows he wanted to bring in.

Hopefully every parent would have the same common sense! BTW, my DS loved the "mix" the kids made...germs & all!

 

[CBRorBust]

I think it will be fine. They are kids, a little germs will be okay.

 

[CEDmom]

As an adult, yes this sounds pretty gross. However, kids are constantly sharing germs. They probably take bites of each others food quite often.

I was wondering whether granola is cooked and maybe that would help rid it of germs. I've never made it myself.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

My son has done this before and everything was fine. I wouldn't worry about it, kids share their germs all the time.

 

[Lewski709]

It IS!

 

[Kaycee]

I always hated those kinds of activities when my kids were that age. As adults, it certainly seems unsanitary and disgusting. But as others have said, kids share germs in practically everything they do. It's probably why kids get sick so much. But I don't see kids changing anytime soon, so it's probably best if we just do the best we can to teach our kids proper hygiene and then try not to think about it too much.

 

[tmq2766]

You may as well put your child in a bubble then because they share germs all the time....... Have you ever seen a child sneeze? Not many of them cover there mouth and when they do they don't wash their hands afterwards. Kids are just generally very generous when it comes to sharing germs..... Germs are actually a good thing to a certain extent. It helps build up their immune system.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Yes, that's a little gross, but not so much so that I'd say anything about it to DS or his teacher. I think everything will be fine!

 

[Pooh93]

Yes, and although it probably won't be much help....we sent 100 individually wrapped miniature Reese's peanut butter cups. However, I look at the germ thing as "if it doesn't kill you, it will only make you stronger." This too shall pass!

 

[disykat]

Gross! When I was teaching, our district policy was that you couldn't ever serve the children food that didn't come in store packaging. Too risky. Kids pick up germs all over the place, I don't see a need to add to it. I tend to think about things in terms of teacher/school liability if someone turns out to have hepititis, e-coli, etc.

I have done the mixed snack foods where everyone brings in a storebought box or bag of snack, we mix it and then each child sorts and graphs their OWN. I've also done the 100 day count where they bring in a baggie full of 100 things (edible or non) but we don't eat it - we just look at it, count it, etc.

Obviously kids touch everything, but I think it would be better to teach the kids food safety. Just because they do it anyway doesn't mean we have to endorse it!