KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

My six-year-old started P1 this year. He started complaining of tummy aches a few weeks ago. It happens only during school hours.

One reason could be psychological: he doesn't like school. School is making his tummy ache.

Another reason could be health: there is something genuinely wrong with his digestive system. When he started school, he could drink milk before we left for home and eat a slice of toast with butter and kaya at a coffeeshop near his school (this is before going to school). About two weeks ago, however, he could eat only half a slice, and this week he stopped completely because he threw up on two separate days after eating some of the toast. He says his tummy is full of milk and he has no space for bread.

We started patronising the coffeeshop when he told us he wasn't eating during recess because the queues at the foodstalls were long. We were immediately concerned because his body had to endure more than four hours with no food. How to study, take part in activities like PE and run around during recess every day like this?

Can any parent out there share any similar experiences?

yes, it could be psychological: he doesn't like school. School is making his tummy ache.

ds has his breakfast at home. usually 2 slices of bread with various jam spread and a half cup of milk or vit c or just water. sometimes he would have biscuits or ceral.

after that is poo time (mon - frid).

we managed to do all within half an hour.

maybe you can give him breakfast at home instead of getting from coffee shop for a start.

Eat breakfast at home... vary the things for breakfast and pack a recess snack for him. Why let him go hungry just becoz the queues are long?

You can pack a bun or sushi in his bag. I put the sushi in an insulated cup and leave in the fridge the night before. This helps to keep the sushi cool until recess time. I also put a packet of milk and Mamee in his bag just in case he gets hungry later.

Having kaya toast every morning for breakfast is not very good. Give him some whole grain cereals, pancake, oats or non-toasted bread with cheese, and a banana. Kaya is made up of coconut milk, eggs and lots of sugar so it's not healthy at all.

Many moms here pack recess for their kids and there is a recess thread in Tuckshop about things to pack.

We gave up on the coffeeshop because they kept changing staff who were getting slower and slower, and whose hygiene was questionable.

My son now drinks milk and eats a banana before school, and there have been no more tummy problems. His best friend's mummy was so inspired that she has started giving her son a banana too