This was published 11 months ago

Mum blasts teacher for rewarding child with 'toxic' lollies but commenters are divided on who was in the wrong

November 21, 2025 - 3.20am

OPINION -- I have often said that while I love my children dearly, there wasn't enough money in the world to entice me to be their teacher.

Like many during the COVID pandemic, when lockdowns forced children to 'remote learn' – a term that still makes me shudder – I had a go at homeschooling my kids

Let me just say, it ended in lots of tears; theirs included.

Watch the video above.

US mum Staci Freed blasted teachers for giving her child a 'toxic' treat as a reward. TikTok/@stacifreed

So when I read about a mum going on a rant about something their child's teacher had done, I'd usually roll my eyes.

But this latest case, which saw a mum blast her daughter's teacher for giving her child 'toxic' lollies, made me wonder who was in the wrong.

Staci Freed took to TikTok recently after her daughter came home from school with a 'treat'.

"I don't know what it is with these teachers but I have told them numerous times that I am not OK with conventional candy, that it is toxic," she began.

Freed said she had asked her daughter's teacher not to give her child the treats TikTok/@stacifreed

Freed said her daughter, who could be seen in the background while she filmed the video, and knew her mother's stance, had brought it home to swap it for a "better brand of candy".

"It's sugar, but it doesn't have as much crap in it and it definitely doesn't have the artificial colours in it that mess with [children's] precious development," she said before adding, "these teachers need to get it together".

Freed uploaded the video with the comment, "My daughter came home with a Ring Pop 'treat' from school today.

"Instead of taking it away, we traded.

"Still a fun treat but without the artificial dyes, flavours and chemicals that don't belong in a child's body.

"I've told the teachers multiple times about avoiding these things… but I'm choosing compromise over conflict."

The video has since gone viral, and has so far been viewed more than 950,000 times and received 13,000 likes and more than 6000 comments.

Many of the commenters took aim at Freed or joked about her stance.

"Raise your hand if you've eaten a ring pop and lived," wrote one.

"Speaking negatively about her teacher in front of her is also not good for her development..." commented another.

"I understand more and more why teachers don't want to teach anymore," wrote another.

My first reaction after watching the video was to roll my eyes. That was until I read Freed's response to one of the comments from a teacher who suggested she "provide those more expensive treats to her teacher" so they could be offered as an alternative.

This led Freed to fire back, "I did provide the teacher with a full bag of organic suckers and even sent cleaner alternatives after my daughter came home with Skittles the week before.

"I also sent a note explaining that she's on a special diet and that I'm more than happy to supply whatever she needs so the teacher isn't spending extra money.

"So this isn't about expecting teachers to buy special treats – it's about communication and consistency when a parent goes out of their way to support the classroom and their child's needs."

I have got to say, Freed's comment changed my view. After all, why are her requests not being supported by the teacher?

Both my kids were on special diets when they were in infant school, which included avoiding foods that contained artificial colours and flavours.

I, too, spent hours looking for alternatives to foods containing the same toxic food colourings that were available in Australia but not in some European countries, and I would have been angry if a teacher who had been made aware of my stance had continued to give my child forbidden treats.

But while we are at it, why are lollies still being handed out as rewards for children at all?

For many years, experts in various fields have advised against rewarding children with food, and even referring to some foods as 'treats'.

Should children be rewarded with lollies in the classroom? Getty

According to Children's Health Queensland, clinical dietitian Jessica Freese said rewarding children with food caused them to associate the "provision or denial of certain foods with behaviours, emotions, or comfort" and could contribute to children forming "unhealthy relationships with food".

"If those habits do carry over into adulthood, it can lead to emotional eating, where food is used as a reward, coping mechanism or just to provide comfort," she said.

Freese, who preferred the term 'sometimes food' to 'treat', said that because lollies, chips or ice cream were often used as a reward, it could set children up to make poor diet choices as they grow up.

"Not only does it create unhealthy relationships with foods, but it can also contribute to weight gain, with the excess consumption of high fat and high sugar foods," she said.

She suggested finding other ways to reward children that doesn't involve food.

"Food isn't the only option," she said. "There are heaps of other ways to reward children."

So, it seems I am with Freed on this one, especially considering the matter points to a wider problem of her daughter's teacher failing or refusing to honour a parent's wishes.

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