CF children in school

[Ratatosk]

Even though we live in a large school district, they don't have full time nurses. We were concerned at the beginning of the year when DS started kindergarten because a coworker's husband is a teacher, and my coworker would talk about all "those" kids with ADD and other "druggies" who had to stand in line at the office for their medicine.

DS is a slow eater and we didn't want him missing out on times with his friends or in class or missing out on something. His teacher dispenses his enzymes prior to snack or walking down for lunch. If there's a substitute, he has to go to the office, but the entire class has to walk past the office and the enzymes are waiting for him.

Next year he goes to a different elementary school, so hopefully things will run just as smoothly. Eventually he'll get to carry his own enzymes with him in middle school. Right now, even if he could carry them, we wouldn't do so, because he's just not responsible enough. I send him to birthday parties with enzymes for a meal and he comes home with extras, despite telling him to take them all.

I do worry about him eating enough. They only get 20 minutes for lunch and he doesn't eat all that quickly. But he gets a snack at school and again when he gets to his daycare. We try to make up for that one meal at home thru snacks, etc.

 

[Ratatosk]

Even though we live in a large school district, they don't have full time nurses. We were concerned at the beginning of the year when DS started kindergarten because a coworker's husband is a teacher, and my coworker would talk about all "those" kids with ADD and other "druggies" who had to stand in line at the office for their medicine.

DS is a slow eater and we didn't want him missing out on times with his friends or in class or missing out on something. His teacher dispenses his enzymes prior to snack or walking down for lunch. If there's a substitute, he has to go to the office, but the entire class has to walk past the office and the enzymes are waiting for him.

Next year he goes to a different elementary school, so hopefully things will run just as smoothly. Eventually he'll get to carry his own enzymes with him in middle school. Right now, even if he could carry them, we wouldn't do so, because he's just not responsible enough. I send him to birthday parties with enzymes for a meal and he comes home with extras, despite telling him to take them all.

I do worry about him eating enough. They only get 20 minutes for lunch and he doesn't eat all that quickly. But he gets a snack at school and again when he gets to his daycare. We try to make up for that one meal at home thru snacks, etc.

 

[Ratatosk]

Even though we live in a large school district, they don't have full time nurses. We were concerned at the beginning of the year when DS started kindergarten because a coworker's husband is a teacher, and my coworker would talk about all "those" kids with ADD and other "druggies" who had to stand in line at the office for their medicine.

DS is a slow eater and we didn't want him missing out on times with his friends or in class or missing out on something. His teacher dispenses his enzymes prior to snack or walking down for lunch. If there's a substitute, he has to go to the office, but the entire class has to walk past the office and the enzymes are waiting for him.

Next year he goes to a different elementary school, so hopefully things will run just as smoothly. Eventually he'll get to carry his own enzymes with him in middle school. Right now, even if he could carry them, we wouldn't do so, because he's just not responsible enough. I send him to birthday parties with enzymes for a meal and he comes home with extras, despite telling him to take them all.

I do worry about him eating enough. They only get 20 minutes for lunch and he doesn't eat all that quickly. But he gets a snack at school and again when he gets to his daycare. We try to make up for that one meal at home thru snacks, etc.

 

[Ratatosk]

Even though we live in a large school district, they don't have full time nurses. We were concerned at the beginning of the year when DS started kindergarten because a coworker's husband is a teacher, and my coworker would talk about all "those" kids with ADD and other "druggies" who had to stand in line at the office for their medicine.

DS is a slow eater and we didn't want him missing out on times with his friends or in class or missing out on something. His teacher dispenses his enzymes prior to snack or walking down for lunch. If there's a substitute, he has to go to the office, but the entire class has to walk past the office and the enzymes are waiting for him.

Next year he goes to a different elementary school, so hopefully things will run just as smoothly. Eventually he'll get to carry his own enzymes with him in middle school. Right now, even if he could carry them, we wouldn't do so, because he's just not responsible enough. I send him to birthday parties with enzymes for a meal and he comes home with extras, despite telling him to take them all.

I do worry about him eating enough. They only get 20 minutes for lunch and he doesn't eat all that quickly. But he gets a snack at school and again when he gets to his daycare. We try to make up for that one meal at home thru snacks, etc.

 

[Ratatosk]

Even though we live in a large school district, they don't have full time nurses. We were concerned at the beginning of the year when DS started kindergarten because a coworker's husband is a teacher, and my coworker would talk about all "those" kids with ADD and other "druggies" who had to stand in line at the office for their medicine.
<br />
<br />DS is a slow eater and we didn't want him missing out on times with his friends or in class or missing out on something. His teacher dispenses his enzymes prior to snack or walking down for lunch. If there's a substitute, he has to go to the office, but the entire class has to walk past the office and the enzymes are waiting for him.
<br />
<br />Next year he goes to a different elementary school, so hopefully things will run just as smoothly. Eventually he'll get to carry his own enzymes with him in middle school. Right now, even if he could carry them, we wouldn't do so, because he's just not responsible enough. I send him to birthday parties with enzymes for a meal and he comes home with extras, despite telling him to take them all.
<br />
<br />I do worry about him eating enough. They only get 20 minutes for lunch and he doesn't eat all that quickly. But he gets a snack at school and again when he gets to his daycare. We try to make up for that one meal at home thru snacks, etc.

 

[hmw]

Emily (3rd grade) stops at the nurses' office to take her enzymes on her way to lunch and before snack. It's not far out of the way, fortunately- just a few doors away from the cafeteria, and only a short walk to and from her classroom at snack time. She has them ready & lets Emily grab them and take them at the water fountain in the hall, so she doesn't have to go all the way into the back of the office where the sink is... along with all the sick kids. I am glad for this.

I wish Emily could self-medicate (Emily's teachers do too, actually) but in our state it's not an option the way dispensing medications in school is regulated.

Emily USUALLY eats well, but not always. She wants to get outside to play (and who can blame her? She's 8!) so if she's not quite finished and everyone else is running out the door she'd rather go with them than take an extra 10min to eat. (The way the lunch waves work, she could stay extra to eat if she wanted to- any child can- but very few do.) She has an aide with her all day, including lunch, due to her dev. disabilities, so someone is there to encourage her to eat, but when Emily is done, she is done, and there's no getting another bite in her. But she eats a morning snack at school, and an enormous snack when she gets home and always eats a good dinner, so I don't worry about it too much.

I hope you can find a solution for your child that doesn't take away from her enjoyment of lunch & recess... is the problem with her eating that it's not enough take enzymes only at the start of her meal? Would it work if she took some enzymes on her way outside and then more on her way back inside, after eating?

 

[hmw]

Emily (3rd grade) stops at the nurses' office to take her enzymes on her way to lunch and before snack. It's not far out of the way, fortunately- just a few doors away from the cafeteria, and only a short walk to and from her classroom at snack time. She has them ready & lets Emily grab them and take them at the water fountain in the hall, so she doesn't have to go all the way into the back of the office where the sink is... along with all the sick kids. I am glad for this.

I wish Emily could self-medicate (Emily's teachers do too, actually) but in our state it's not an option the way dispensing medications in school is regulated.

Emily USUALLY eats well, but not always. She wants to get outside to play (and who can blame her? She's 8!) so if she's not quite finished and everyone else is running out the door she'd rather go with them than take an extra 10min to eat. (The way the lunch waves work, she could stay extra to eat if she wanted to- any child can- but very few do.) She has an aide with her all day, including lunch, due to her dev. disabilities, so someone is there to encourage her to eat, but when Emily is done, she is done, and there's no getting another bite in her. But she eats a morning snack at school, and an enormous snack when she gets home and always eats a good dinner, so I don't worry about it too much.

I hope you can find a solution for your child that doesn't take away from her enjoyment of lunch & recess... is the problem with her eating that it's not enough take enzymes only at the start of her meal? Would it work if she took some enzymes on her way outside and then more on her way back inside, after eating?

 

[hmw]

Emily (3rd grade) stops at the nurses' office to take her enzymes on her way to lunch and before snack. It's not far out of the way, fortunately- just a few doors away from the cafeteria, and only a short walk to and from her classroom at snack time. She has them ready & lets Emily grab them and take them at the water fountain in the hall, so she doesn't have to go all the way into the back of the office where the sink is... along with all the sick kids. I am glad for this.

I wish Emily could self-medicate (Emily's teachers do too, actually) but in our state it's not an option the way dispensing medications in school is regulated.

Emily USUALLY eats well, but not always. She wants to get outside to play (and who can blame her? She's 8!) so if she's not quite finished and everyone else is running out the door she'd rather go with them than take an extra 10min to eat. (The way the lunch waves work, she could stay extra to eat if she wanted to- any child can- but very few do.) She has an aide with her all day, including lunch, due to her dev. disabilities, so someone is there to encourage her to eat, but when Emily is done, she is done, and there's no getting another bite in her. But she eats a morning snack at school, and an enormous snack when she gets home and always eats a good dinner, so I don't worry about it too much.

I hope you can find a solution for your child that doesn't take away from her enjoyment of lunch & recess... is the problem with her eating that it's not enough take enzymes only at the start of her meal? Would it work if she took some enzymes on her way outside and then more on her way back inside, after eating?

 

[hmw]

Emily (3rd grade) stops at the nurses' office to take her enzymes on her way to lunch and before snack. It's not far out of the way, fortunately- just a few doors away from the cafeteria, and only a short walk to and from her classroom at snack time. She has them ready & lets Emily grab them and take them at the water fountain in the hall, so she doesn't have to go all the way into the back of the office where the sink is... along with all the sick kids. I am glad for this.

I wish Emily could self-medicate (Emily's teachers do too, actually) but in our state it's not an option the way dispensing medications in school is regulated.

Emily USUALLY eats well, but not always. She wants to get outside to play (and who can blame her? She's 8!) so if she's not quite finished and everyone else is running out the door she'd rather go with them than take an extra 10min to eat. (The way the lunch waves work, she could stay extra to eat if she wanted to- any child can- but very few do.) She has an aide with her all day, including lunch, due to her dev. disabilities, so someone is there to encourage her to eat, but when Emily is done, she is done, and there's no getting another bite in her. But she eats a morning snack at school, and an enormous snack when she gets home and always eats a good dinner, so I don't worry about it too much.

I hope you can find a solution for your child that doesn't take away from her enjoyment of lunch & recess... is the problem with her eating that it's not enough take enzymes only at the start of her meal? Would it work if she took some enzymes on her way outside and then more on her way back inside, after eating?

 

[hmw]

Emily (3rd grade) stops at the nurses' office to take her enzymes on her way to lunch and before snack. It's not far out of the way, fortunately- just a few doors away from the cafeteria, and only a short walk to and from her classroom at snack time. She has them ready & lets Emily grab them and take them at the water fountain in the hall, so she doesn't have to go all the way into the back of the office where the sink is... along with all the sick kids. I am glad for this.
<br />
<br />I wish Emily could self-medicate (Emily's teachers do too, actually) but in our state it's not an option the way dispensing medications in school is regulated.
<br />
<br />Emily USUALLY eats well, but not always. She wants to get outside to play (and who can blame her? She's 8!) so if she's not quite finished and everyone else is running out the door she'd rather go with them than take an extra 10min to eat. (The way the lunch waves work, she could stay extra to eat if she wanted to- any child can- but very few do.) She has an aide with her all day, including lunch, due to her dev. disabilities, so someone is there to encourage her to eat, but when Emily is done, she is done, and there's no getting another bite in her. But she eats a morning snack at school, and an enormous snack when she gets home and always eats a good dinner, so I don't worry about it too much.
<br />
<br />I hope you can find a solution for your child that doesn't take away from her enjoyment of lunch & recess... is the problem with her eating that it's not enough take enzymes only at the start of her meal? Would it work if she took some enzymes on her way outside and then more on her way back inside, after eating?

 

[fly30]

Thanks to all for your replies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Harriet, her problrm is that she eats to slow, and always has. She was going to the office at the beggining of lunch and having 2 enzymes to start with. Then at the end of lunch she would go to the office, the nurse would check what shes eaten and then give her the rest of her enzymes according to how much shes eaten.

But that was taking her over an hour, and it was way too long. As idealy enzymes work best in the first 1/2 hr. The other problem was, that some days she would forget to show at the office and therefor not get any anzymes at all. Which has caused her to have severe GI issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

so we decided to take this next step, which i dont think is working as well as i hoped. I mean her eating is the same (slow), but shes getting her right ammount of enzymes. which is good, but she is now missing out on all her outdoor play time with her friends.

Not sure what to do <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> i guess i just cannot wait till shes old enough and responsible enough to take them herself.

Thanks again

 

[fly30]

Thanks to all for your replies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Harriet, her problrm is that she eats to slow, and always has. She was going to the office at the beggining of lunch and having 2 enzymes to start with. Then at the end of lunch she would go to the office, the nurse would check what shes eaten and then give her the rest of her enzymes according to how much shes eaten.

But that was taking her over an hour, and it was way too long. As idealy enzymes work best in the first 1/2 hr. The other problem was, that some days she would forget to show at the office and therefor not get any anzymes at all. Which has caused her to have severe GI issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

so we decided to take this next step, which i dont think is working as well as i hoped. I mean her eating is the same (slow), but shes getting her right ammount of enzymes. which is good, but she is now missing out on all her outdoor play time with her friends.

Not sure what to do <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> i guess i just cannot wait till shes old enough and responsible enough to take them herself.

Thanks again

 

[fly30]

Thanks to all for your replies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Harriet, her problrm is that she eats to slow, and always has. She was going to the office at the beggining of lunch and having 2 enzymes to start with. Then at the end of lunch she would go to the office, the nurse would check what shes eaten and then give her the rest of her enzymes according to how much shes eaten.

But that was taking her over an hour, and it was way too long. As idealy enzymes work best in the first 1/2 hr. The other problem was, that some days she would forget to show at the office and therefor not get any anzymes at all. Which has caused her to have severe GI issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

so we decided to take this next step, which i dont think is working as well as i hoped. I mean her eating is the same (slow), but shes getting her right ammount of enzymes. which is good, but she is now missing out on all her outdoor play time with her friends.

Not sure what to do <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> i guess i just cannot wait till shes old enough and responsible enough to take them herself.

Thanks again

 

[fly30]

Thanks to all for your replies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Harriet, her problrm is that she eats to slow, and always has. She was going to the office at the beggining of lunch and having 2 enzymes to start with. Then at the end of lunch she would go to the office, the nurse would check what shes eaten and then give her the rest of her enzymes according to how much shes eaten.

But that was taking her over an hour, and it was way too long. As idealy enzymes work best in the first 1/2 hr. The other problem was, that some days she would forget to show at the office and therefor not get any anzymes at all. Which has caused her to have severe GI issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

so we decided to take this next step, which i dont think is working as well as i hoped. I mean her eating is the same (slow), but shes getting her right ammount of enzymes. which is good, but she is now missing out on all her outdoor play time with her friends.

Not sure what to do <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> i guess i just cannot wait till shes old enough and responsible enough to take them herself.

Thanks again

 

[fly30]

Thanks to all for your replies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Harriet, her problrm is that she eats to slow, and always has. She was going to the office at the beggining of lunch and having 2 enzymes to start with. Then at the end of lunch she would go to the office, the nurse would check what shes eaten and then give her the rest of her enzymes according to how much shes eaten.
<br />
<br />But that was taking her over an hour, and it was way too long. As idealy enzymes work best in the first 1/2 hr. The other problem was, that some days she would forget to show at the office and therefor not get any anzymes at all. Which has caused her to have severe GI issues <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />so we decided to take this next step, which i dont think is working as well as i hoped. I mean her eating is the same (slow), but shes getting her right ammount of enzymes. which is good, but she is now missing out on all her outdoor play time with her friends.
<br />
<br />Not sure what to do <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> i guess i just cannot wait till shes old enough and responsible enough to take them herself.
<br />
<br />Thanks again

 

[hmw]

Yeah, that is a problem- both taking too long and not getting her enzymes, as well as eating indoors and missing her recess. In my opinion, that's not an acceptable way for the school to handle it... most kids consider staying in for recess punishment.

Can a recess monitor make sure she remembers to go in and take the rest of them, maybe at the same time every day, and whatever is eaten is eaten at that point: even if some days she ends up eating a little less this way than it would be if she sat in the office for an hour, at least all her enzymes will be taken daily, which will minimize gi issues, she'll have a set block of time during which to eat daily and hopefully she'll start eating faster when she's hungrier. Sticking her in the office is easy for staff, but having someone remind her daily to go inside to take her enzymes is something they can do as well that is a lot more sensitive to her needs.

It sounds like she needs a more structured way to eat but it should not at the expense of recess; it's important for our kids with cf to be able to run and be active (as it is for all kids.)

eta> Have you talked with your daughter about how she feels about all this? Come up with ideas on how to eat faster; ideas about food that is easier for her to eat faster, more calorie dense in small portions, etc... Another thought: if the amount of time given her to eat lunch ends up being limited, has it been considered to give her opportunity to have a (quick) afternoon snack if needed in the classroom?

 

[hmw]

Yeah, that is a problem- both taking too long and not getting her enzymes, as well as eating indoors and missing her recess. In my opinion, that's not an acceptable way for the school to handle it... most kids consider staying in for recess punishment.

Can a recess monitor make sure she remembers to go in and take the rest of them, maybe at the same time every day, and whatever is eaten is eaten at that point: even if some days she ends up eating a little less this way than it would be if she sat in the office for an hour, at least all her enzymes will be taken daily, which will minimize gi issues, she'll have a set block of time during which to eat daily and hopefully she'll start eating faster when she's hungrier. Sticking her in the office is easy for staff, but having someone remind her daily to go inside to take her enzymes is something they can do as well that is a lot more sensitive to her needs.

It sounds like she needs a more structured way to eat but it should not at the expense of recess; it's important for our kids with cf to be able to run and be active (as it is for all kids.)

eta> Have you talked with your daughter about how she feels about all this? Come up with ideas on how to eat faster; ideas about food that is easier for her to eat faster, more calorie dense in small portions, etc... Another thought: if the amount of time given her to eat lunch ends up being limited, has it been considered to give her opportunity to have a (quick) afternoon snack if needed in the classroom?

 

[hmw]

Yeah, that is a problem- both taking too long and not getting her enzymes, as well as eating indoors and missing her recess. In my opinion, that's not an acceptable way for the school to handle it... most kids consider staying in for recess punishment.

Can a recess monitor make sure she remembers to go in and take the rest of them, maybe at the same time every day, and whatever is eaten is eaten at that point: even if some days she ends up eating a little less this way than it would be if she sat in the office for an hour, at least all her enzymes will be taken daily, which will minimize gi issues, she'll have a set block of time during which to eat daily and hopefully she'll start eating faster when she's hungrier. Sticking her in the office is easy for staff, but having someone remind her daily to go inside to take her enzymes is something they can do as well that is a lot more sensitive to her needs.

It sounds like she needs a more structured way to eat but it should not at the expense of recess; it's important for our kids with cf to be able to run and be active (as it is for all kids.)

eta> Have you talked with your daughter about how she feels about all this? Come up with ideas on how to eat faster; ideas about food that is easier for her to eat faster, more calorie dense in small portions, etc... Another thought: if the amount of time given her to eat lunch ends up being limited, has it been considered to give her opportunity to have a (quick) afternoon snack if needed in the classroom?

 

[hmw]

Yeah, that is a problem- both taking too long and not getting her enzymes, as well as eating indoors and missing her recess. In my opinion, that's not an acceptable way for the school to handle it... most kids consider staying in for recess punishment.

Can a recess monitor make sure she remembers to go in and take the rest of them, maybe at the same time every day, and whatever is eaten is eaten at that point: even if some days she ends up eating a little less this way than it would be if she sat in the office for an hour, at least all her enzymes will be taken daily, which will minimize gi issues, she'll have a set block of time during which to eat daily and hopefully she'll start eating faster when she's hungrier. Sticking her in the office is easy for staff, but having someone remind her daily to go inside to take her enzymes is something they can do as well that is a lot more sensitive to her needs.

It sounds like she needs a more structured way to eat but it should not at the expense of recess; it's important for our kids with cf to be able to run and be active (as it is for all kids.)

eta> Have you talked with your daughter about how she feels about all this? Come up with ideas on how to eat faster; ideas about food that is easier for her to eat faster, more calorie dense in small portions, etc... Another thought: if the amount of time given her to eat lunch ends up being limited, has it been considered to give her opportunity to have a (quick) afternoon snack if needed in the classroom?

 

[hmw]

Yeah, that is a problem- both taking too long and not getting her enzymes, as well as eating indoors and missing her recess. In my opinion, that's not an acceptable way for the school to handle it... most kids consider staying in for recess punishment.
<br />
<br />Can a recess monitor make sure she remembers to go in and take the rest of them, maybe at the same time every day, and whatever is eaten is eaten at that point: even if some days she ends up eating a little less this way than it would be if she sat in the office for an hour, at least all her enzymes will be taken daily, which will minimize gi issues, she'll have a set block of time during which to eat daily and hopefully she'll start eating faster when she's hungrier. Sticking her in the office is easy for staff, but having someone remind her daily to go inside to take her enzymes is something they can do as well that is a lot more sensitive to her needs.
<br />
<br />It sounds like she needs a more structured way to eat but it should not at the expense of recess; it's important for our kids with cf to be able to run and be active (as it is for all kids.)
<br />
<br />eta> Have you talked with your daughter about how she feels about all this? Come up with ideas on how to eat faster; ideas about food that is easier for her to eat faster, more calorie dense in small portions, etc... Another thought: if the amount of time given her to eat lunch ends up being limited, has it been considered to give her opportunity to have a (quick) afternoon snack if needed in the classroom?