Quote Originally Posted by mickyc View Post
So I have one boy that doesn't get here until 9:30 daily. It actually ranges from 9-10. I agreed to it and it isn't an issue as I just carry on with what we are doing and boy usually misses out on crafts. Today he came in shortly after the other 3 sat down to eat. I didn't go back and get anything for him and just let him play although I think mom thought I was going to get him to sit down too. My guess is he likely just finished breakfast (he has no interest in the fact that the others are eating).

Would you have pulled everything out again to make him snack?
Hmmm, I think it would be a good idea to try and set a cut off time with the parent that should the child come after a certain time you will assume he does not require a snack. The parent also needs to communicate with you when the child ate breakfast, guessing is not practical. There will be a significant difference in the need dependent on a 9am drop off versus a 10am so clearing this up by talking would make it clearer to determine what to do.

A child who ate breakfast at 8 or later doesn't need to eat again until lunchtime so if that is the case I wouldn't offer snack. How many kids eat because they are offered it but in fact are not hungry, that is unhealthy. AM snack in my house is primarily in place due to the fact that most of my daycare kids are eating breakfast at 6:30 so they need a light bite at around the 9am mark to see them till lunchtime. Not to say that the 8am breakfast kid wouldn't eat like a horse, most kids I have cared for seem to have a bottomless pit for a stomach, but it likely wouldn't be a need but something they are used to which is not something that should be encouraged IMO.