I have two boys 5 and 7 and they take more than one hour to finish lunch or dinner. They are very well behaved but is just as if lunch and dinner is their time to have fun, they make funny faces at each other, they laugh, and eating is the last thing on their minds.
I have tried taking away their priviledges like watching tv or playing games but nothing seems to work.
I am desperate to find a way to make them understand that lunch and dinner are times to eat and nothing else. Help please!!!!
2006-09-29 17:58:01 · 22 answers · asked by pinky 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
i have 3 children who do the same -i have learned to fix their food in small amounts at a time this way they eat it have time to talk aand if they want more they ask. it is not good to rush them espically at a young age as this could lead to digestive problems later and also overeating by trying to hurry and get it all in. remember the next time yu dine with friends or someone u like to talk to --and think back how many times u talk during your meal together--then next time be a little mor patient with you boys - they are just being kids and look at it this way at least they enjoy one anothers company unlike most siblings who fight with many excuses like--he's looking at me --he's touching me --he's sitting too close --mom tell him too quit--etc....many more i have heard them all. if nothing else sit at the table with them and enjoy your meal together and with you there they might talk less
2006-09-30 00:28:37 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no kids but I was around many when growing up as my mom babysat. They are young so they can lose attention. Perhaps they are not that hungry , try giving them a little less food. I noticed that the kids would take forever if they did not like the food.
Maybe you can get them into the habit of eating faster if they get a reward or you can say the sooner your done the faster we can take you to the park. But I know you can't aways do this and it will only hide the problem.
I am sure when they get older they will cut down on this. Hope any of this helped.
2006-09-29 18:03:33 · answer #2 · answered by SummerRain Girl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is nothing wrong with Maybe implementing a little more discipline and being a little stricter at the table, but their "slowness" can also have its advantages. Kids who don't have the "clean plate mentality" typically aren't overweight adults. Maybe put a smaller amount on their plates, give them 30 minutes to eat, and what's not finished will be served at the next meal. If you also don't allow snacks in between, they will conform and spend less time playing and more time being less hungry.
2006-09-29 20:10:16 · answer #3 · answered by MsTEARious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL!! Sounds like you are at my house girl !! UGH! I have 3 kids and go through the same thing. We began setting the timer for 20 min. once it seemed that it was "play" time for them. Once the timer goes off, plates are removed and that is it. Sometimes we will remove the kids from the table and then give them "one more chance" and this has curbed it for the most part. I know it can so be crazy at the table. Stick to your guns ands try new techniques, let them know mealtime is a time to nourish our bodies, it is not a time to play ;)
Good luck, you are not alone !
2006-09-29 18:09:20 · answer #4 · answered by Michele S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son and daughter do the same thing. I let them go and using positive motives like "dont forget to eat" it may a time for them but mentally they cant keep there minds on one thing for to long bc of there ages. The dinner tabe is also a place for a family to have fun togeather. not just meals. Make memories good and relax about it.
2006-09-29 18:21:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is not a bad thing. It may be iritating, but eating slowly you don't eat as much. It takes 20 minites for the brain to process that you have eaten. So instead of over eating quickly, they are eat the right amount slowly. Don't break this for them. You will feel really stupid if you rush them and then they end up over-weight.
2006-09-29 22:12:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let them manipulate you. It's fun to frustrate mommy. All boys do the same thing they love the attention no matter if it's positive or negative attention, especially from mom. My sister and I would sit on the couch watching tv and I would tell her to yell out and say that I was hitting her or bothering her, just so we could get a reaction out of my mother. We would get such a kick out of it.
2006-09-29 18:07:38 · answer #7 · answered by CHEYENNE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Genuine personal opinion and am not a psychologist so beware:
Are they really hungry, may be what they eat between/before meals such as snacks make them full at dinner time.
As a last resort why don't you separate them or have them eat at slightly different times if each other's company is too much of a distraction.
2006-09-29 18:03:22 · answer #8 · answered by Yacine B 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Give them their lunch and dinner through and IV, just joking
Instead of taking away things, why dont you reward for good behaviour
Whoever eats properlty, etc. can have an extra half hour of tv, etc. make it a competition for them so they battle eachother to impress you.
2006-09-29 18:01:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Try feeding them at different times, let one finish and then the other one can eat. It seems they are playing instead of eating, if they have no one to play with, they should be in a hurry to go back and play again. It's worth a try.
Good Luck
2006-09-29 18:03:01 · answer #10 · answered by Pam of Ga 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋