Kids In Preschool/Daycare: Come In

[MissMusic]

So this question might be premature, but I was concerned this week and I knew J12 would have an answer!

Basically, my kid started preschool on Monday (she loooooves it!) but she's refusing to eat when she's there.  She goes Mon/Tues/Thurs from 9:30-1:30.  She gets a snack (provided by the school) and I pack her lunch.

She has been coming home STARVING.  Her food is in her lunch box, untouched.  She cannot wait to get it open when I pick her up so she can eat in the car.  She's not a good breakfast eater, so she has almost nothing from the time she wakes up until 1:30-1:45pm.

I've asked her why, and she says she just likes eating at home instead.
Do the other kids eat with you? Yes.
Are they nice when you are eating? Yes.
Do you have enough time to eat?  Yes.
Do you like what is in your lunch box?  Yes.
Do the teachers help you open the bags or containers in your lunch? Yes.

I'm at a loss!  I let her pack her own lunch on Thurs and it still wasn't touched.  I even put in some fruit snacks (a huuuuge treat in our house) and those were unopened.  She also says she doesn't eat the provided snack because she doesn't like it (nilla wafers, crackers, pretzels, etc).

Do I need to be concerned or is this just a 1st week jitters thing?  She's obviously starving.  Should I contact her teachers and ask them to encourage her to eat?  What else can I do?

[justbeth]

I would give her another week or so to adjust and see if anything changes. Do you know if they are allowed to get up and play when they are finished? If so, she just may not want to take the time to eat. If that's the case, once the new wears off of school she will probably start eating. I'd also ask a teacher just to be sure they are helping her get things opened and encouraging her to eat.

[origamimommy]

My husband and I joke that Tyler is like a dog: he won't eat somewhere new. We went to Cleveland to visit a friend and he didn't eat all weekend. I'd give it some more time for her to adjust but it seems normal!

[heatherbee]

As a teacher I think it's normal for kids to do stuff like that at first. Maybe see how she does the next 2 weeks and then talk to the teacher if it's still happening? It just might be way too much cool new stuff all at once to care about eating

[MissMusic]

Ooooh ok this is good. I thought I might be worried over nothing, but my kid eats. I will give it some time!

justbeth, they have "quiet/reading time" after lunch for like 30min or something? Then they line up to go home. After snack they have art centers, which is her favorite. Maybe she just needs time to get the newness of it over with!