How do I get my toddler twins to eat and behave better at the dinner table?

Question

We at least now eat at the dinner table since their birth, instead of tv trays in the living room, but it just seems that they don't actually eat, they play around doing everything from poking the other twin with a utensil, putting their food from the plate onto the table, yelling, tapping the table with their utensils, etc. Dinner is not enjoyable for me and my husband just gets aggravated. I also feel I have to rush to eat, just to end the chaos. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

i also have twin toddlers and to be fair dinner time can be stressful so just congratulate urself on the fact that u can at least manage to all get round the same table
firstly, ask ur husband to go along with whatever rules you set for dinner time, eg take away cup after 2 throws etc, and explain the rules to the children too (i know a lot of people will say they are too young but they do understand more than we realise)
2. try moving them apart from eachother so they cant touch
3. allow them to see what you are eating they may want to try your food, if you are eating the same meal try getting them to feed u a little of it so they know its nice
4. keep things as simple as possible dont make elaborate meals as you will be disappointed if its not eaten, and remove distractions
5. read them a story or show them a programme they like that has characters eating dinner so they know everyone does it
these are all things that have worked for me, my boys are 22mos and have always eaten well and behaved fine at meal times in restaurants and at home, good luck and be patient

Answer 2

Toddlers can learn table manners. This is the best time to teach them. First, I would say separate them. Make sure they are given clear rules of how you expect them to behave at the table. Remove any other stimulation (tv, toys) from the room. Give them a warning if they start acting out and if it happens again make sure you follow through with punishment. Don't give in! I have 5 year old twins and a 3 year old and they have had great table manners and have been clearing their own plates since they were 2. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Well, first off Seperate them. Make them sit on opposite ends of the table at dinner time. And if they dont heed your warning the first time, then take them away from the dinner table. Remind them, dinner time is eating time, not play time. And if they cant cooperate, then they lose out on dinner. I know this sounds kinda harsh but trust me, missing a meal or 2 will make them see that you mean business. Stick to your guns though, and dont give in. Put them in their room or in a quiet chair till dinners done. And dont allow them to have anything else to eat for the night. Trust me, as a mom of 3 boys they learn fast! Our now 9 & 11 year olds pulled that when they were 2 & 4.
We also now tell our 4 1/2 year old, if you dont eat you go to bed for the night. There are times he will say go to bed. And we put him there for the whole night. He stopped that, realizing he had to lay in bed without TV, and sleep! lol
Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Adjust your expectations.
Toddlers are too young to "behave" at the dinner table.
It is going to be constant work for for you to keep their behavior under control, and a miracle to get them to actually eat.
They will grow up, however, so you can either ride out this stage until they mature a little or feed them in a different environment.
When they are in elementary school you can expect them to sit with you at the table for a meal. There will still be behavior issues ( I still have them with my tweens and teens) but by age 6 or 7 you can manage to keep them at teh table for 20 minutes or so.

I like the suggestion of a toddler-size table and plates. I had a small table that we used for many years for meals, art projects, tea parties and even kindergarten "homework." I believe a good sturdy child-size table and chairs is well worth the money you spend on it.

Answer 5

properly in the process the 50's and 60's eating on an identical time as observing television became the situation to do, regularly simply by fact it became the time while TVs have been in simple terms getting regularly occurring and became considered a social adventure. for occasion seem at how many human beings watched the 1st moon touchdown, now how many human beings watched the Mars rovers land? Now days everybody is making an attempt to come back to the kin values of then a minimum of at dwelling house. Plus the television acts as a distraction. while human beings sat on the table it forced you to speak as a kin and have interaction as a kin. Now as for the regulations like asserting excuse me isn't needed, even though it does instruct little ones ideal table etiquette, yet as quickly as I ought to circulate to the rest room, i ain't asking, i'm going. Plus identity particularly pay attention approximately your day or the youngsters day, particularly than what's on television. this would not make you a bad parent, even though it does help in the way you mould a newborn's way of questioning and interplay.

Answer 6

When my 4 year old was younger, I bought her, her own little dinner table, and bought her some cute plates, bowls and cups, and she just loved sitting at her own table with her own stuff and she had a good time eating dinner.

Answer 7

first thing to do seperate the twins. put your husband on one side with one and you on one side with the other. during dinner keep saying if they do a good job they get a treat (dessert) good luck!