What do you think?

Thats so not on. At our preschool (kindercare) its a cooked vegetarian lunch and its soooo yummy but they would never withhold afternoon tea that is so wrong. Also some days kids just don't want to eat much and that is fine they shouldn't be punished for it.

Thats disgusting, and I would be a bit sus (going by your other post) that they are maybe trying to push you into pulling him out? What a pack of assholes.

I'm another on the OMG wagon!

Over the school holidays, I withheld food from my almost 6 year old, Id never do it to a 3 year old. I did it cause she had to learn set meals times & she knew she was allowed food at 10, 12 & 2.30, only took her a day & a half to realise I was serious. She was old enough to learn that concequence, a 3 year old is not!

But no wonder your son is acting up...that is crap crap food. If you are feeding him low preservative foods, no wonder he's acting up at daycare after being loaded up with them!

Definitely not on. When my kids went to creche they had a rule that you had to eat fruit before the 'treat' of morning or afternoon tea and I now also do that at home.

I'm not sure I agree with the 'your child, your rules' because I would imagine that in a daycare with 20 odd kids, you need to have set rules that other children have to follow....but the rule of starving the child because they wouldn't eat lunch is not acceptable and very hard to understand that that would be there policy. Is this policy documented...if so, maybe make an offical complaint.

I'm an ECE teacher have worked in various daycares and kindy's for th elast 10 years.

They are NOT alllowed to withhold food from a child.
It is a regulation that food must not be withheld or used as a form as punishment, just like they are not allowed to smack a child, we as ECE teachers legally can't reuse to feed a child under any circumstances.

As centres are licensed by the ministry of education contact them and tell them what happened they should do a spot check. No centre is allowed to do this. This IS NOT O.k. Food should never be used to punish a child.

Talk to the centre manger, lay a complaint and i would take it further if you get no luck form her.
Be stong they ar ein the wrong.

It is horrible and i'm ashamed as an ECE teacher, that this happens!

eww at 2 minute noodles..yeah cant say I blame your son for not wanting to eat that crap.

but yes I would be furious if they with held food from my child at the next meal cause she did not her lunch. you cannot make a child eat something but it is cruel to withhold food from them at the next meal.

sometimes my daughter doenst eat breakfast but I always make sure she has something at morning tea.

That is disgusting food, I can't blame him for not wanting it.
That is really sad, and totally mean to withhold food from your little man. If someone did that to my son I would be heart broken too.
Make a complaint, and make sure you follow it up. I would expect nothing less then a formal apology that is for sure.

Thank you so much everyone. I have found another centre for him and he'll be starting there at the beginning of March. Unfortunately the new centre have a waitlist for the Tuesday that I need, so will have to find another option quickly for that day.

Mel and Annie - I actually think the same. I think they are actually trying to make his time there horrible, and purposely upset my sensibilites as a parent. I've been speaking to my mum about this - she used to be an Advocate at the Childrens Commission, and when I go in there today to let them know he will be withdrawn from the centre, I'm going to voice my unhappiness at what has been happening. I will also be putting it in writing, for the ERO, and the centre. There have been so many other things happen (physical restraint, pulling on clothes so he ended up with blood marks on his neck....) that I feel obliged to make an issue of it.

Thanks so much ladies. Your comments and advice are fabulous

yep what kazzle said... also if you need someone for a few interim tuesdays i am not too far from you and could help out if needed...

.Mel wrote: I would take it as far as you can with this centre. Complain to anyone and everyone about the treatment of your son. So happy to hear that you have found a centre that will take him. Good luck

Yep I agree, even letting the local paper know what is happening there as well might open a few more peoples eyes.