Eating lunch at school

[ALLISA]

Maybe I should have put this in IEP section.....but not an offiical IEP question......

Last year Erin stayed at school for lunch, and ALL preschoolers ate in their classroom...not the cafetaeria. THis year as a kindergartener, she is "expected" to eat in the lunch room.

I have discussed this with her teacher and few different times and we are both unsure of the right way to do lunch. The school has the tables that fold out from the wall.....along with benches.....

Erin is so small that she can't reach the table from the bench and the bench is also too far away from the table for her and this can't be adjusted as they are connected to the wall !! LOL

I'm not thrilled with having Erin in some sort of "high chair"....although we do still use the Trip/Trap chair at home.....I jsut don't want her to stick out like that at school

Her preschool teacher from last year suggested that Erin could eat with her class in the Preschool room( LOVE HER !! ).....but it invovles some switching around of schedules as the preschool typically eats at a different time and they would like Erin to be able to do recess time on the "big playground" with her K-2 peers.

I think I'm leaning towards eating with the preschool.....as it is.....I anticipate that if she is ready to intergrate....she'd be intergrating with preschool and NOT kindergarten.....she just isn't "there" yet....

Anyone have any other suggestions ? Or been through this already with a small-statured child ?

PS....the school is 100 % accomadating and open to any and all ideas....they are not "locking me in" anywhere.....just trying to figure out what is best !

Thanks for thoughts !
Allisa

[Becky]

Yesterday was Justin's first day to go all day and I was told that they would eat in the class room, we will just say that it didnt go like that, they ate with all the other kids, Justin is just now getting good at feeding himself and he will push, so his 1st tray was on the floor the second all over him, they werent happy, I told them I was told it would be in the classroom, so they want to put him in a high chair but Im with you I dont want him to stand out, he also cant reach the table, so for now on he will have a one on one aid in the lunch room with him so hopefully that will help, they have a chair the height of the table so he will be in it with out the tray on it they will just push him up to the table, maybe with they have a chair like that for Erin, they could just push it up to the table.
Let me know what happens
Becky

[momofrussell]

Well... at River Bend.. the class last year before we switched, they had a cafeteria but most of the kids in the spec ed class didn't like eating there.. too loud, busy, ect.. so they ate in the room together.. I had no probs with this. Some parents wanted their child to be included but that was their choice... for me I would rather him be in the class with the spec ed peer.

Now at this school... they are set up kinda different and although they have cafeteria food... they have to cafeteria or seating.. so ALL grades, ALL kids.. get their foods and go in their class and eat with their class. Last year Russell always brought his lunch and even though he was in 1st grade for specials.. he ate with his spec ed peers in the self contained class. I liked this.. he learned to open his lunch box, food, ect.. and he is STILL learning this stuff to be honest.

So.. this year.. we get a NEW spec ed teacher.. he is in the other class now, kinda taken by surprise but I am going with the flow as best as possible until we move. I then meet his 2nd grade teacher for specials and she informs me the principal said Russell is to eat with his 2nd grade inclusion class for lunch! I was like ... WAIT!! WHAT?! NO ONE told me... and well, they ONLY get 15 min and if he wasn't done they'd let him finish in his spec ed class? NOPE... there were a few too many changes in my life and Russell's lately.. with home and school so at "meet the teacher" night, night before school, I expressed my concerned and asked for him to eat with the spec ed class only. Now.. I know most would want their kids to have the socialization of the typical class room... but Russell is STILL learning self help stuff and if you saw the way he eats and needs help, I see this more as a circus act. Have you seen Russell eat? LOL

Anywhoo.. my long winded point would be do what you think it best for Erin I guess. I know on one hand we want them to socialize, be independent, ect.. but it's up to you. I think the preschool option sounds great! But I don't know Erin with her school set up, ect.

I know I am realizing that Russell's "inclusion grade" is getting older and there is a bigger gap each year and I am wanting him more and more in JUST the self contained class. Something I just realized this week.

A.

[MB]

Have the school place a small table with four chairs in the cafeteria. Allow the kids in the class to rotate turns sitting at the special table. This is a reasonable accommodation for a child whose disability includes short stature.

mb

[marisa]

Is there any way you could put a chair at the end of the table? Maybe one that adjusts up and down like an office chair.

Marisa

[ALLISA]

Marisa...I thought of this, too....I need to see the actual chair they would use to reach the table.

Thanks MB....I know at my son's school they have a samller round table for children with allergies....actually.....it may be reveresed & if you wnat your child to have peanut butter (which is basically banned in the shcool)...they must sit at the round table to eat it.....

I will ask if they already have an "allergy" table at Erin's school.

Becky....Justin's day is how I envision Erin's day....she throws any and all food not wanted....part of me thinks the noise and chaos may be too much for her anyways in the big caf....maybe she will be happier in the preschool room.....ssiiiigghhhh.......why does EVEN LUNCH have to be an issue ?? wwahhhh.......

[CC]

Awww HUGS girl, "why does EVEN LUNCH have to be an issue ??" I can totally relate to what you mean, some days it just seems as every little detail has to be planned

Just my thoughts BUT if you decide on the Kindy lunch, NO High Chair is my thoughts too BUT I do like the idea of a chair at the end of the table that can be pushed in, even if that requires a special made chair.

CC ~

[Chester]

Hey Allisa~
I've learned from JT that sometimes we just need to try things. Give the big cafeteria a try, she may just surprise you. Sounds like you have some good suggestions to try to accomdate her size, there has to be other little ones that would benefit from a smaller table. The school we left in WI had a bunch of little Tyke picnic tables, in the lunch room for 4 year old K and 5 year old K students to chose between the smaller table or the regular size.

If the big lunch room turns out to be too much stimulation she could always switch over to the preschool lunch....I know, I know the schedules don't match up exactly.....schedules are made to be changed ; ) Glad to hear that you have an accomodating school! Now is the hard part for you, to let her try her wings and fly a bit.

Dawn

[steffipoo]

HI!!!!

I do agree that a highchair would be a not good decision. I sure wouldn't let my girl sit in a high chair in kindy. I like MB's idea. Maybe a peer helper? There's gotta be some kind of cool thing that could elevate Erin in her seat. Would that work? Perhaps you all can buy a smaller table that would accomodate a few kids and isn't babyish but rather cool and rotate the kids to sit with her. Make it a privelige ya know????Definately don't go for something too babyish. Something cool for kinders or older to sit on. I betcha it will hafta be approved by the school for safety stuff. Boy can you take a picture of the area? I could help you more if I saw what it looked like.Glad the school is cool about it. Thats a relief .

[steffipoo]

BTW... I would try the traditional seating first with all the kinder kids. AND BTW watching typical kids eat will give her great models and betcha she will start to eat better and stop throwing.Olivia got to be so nest and tidy after eating with her kider friends. She wanted to do everything they do.Perhaps pack her favorite thing and if she doesn't throw her food and tries her best to eat as appropriately as possible at the moment then have someone reward her with it. Perhaps pack an extra one for the peer helper too. This will give them incentive to help her in the beginning. HUGS Steff