Wow! Is my 9 year old girl a bottomless pit?

Question

I thought they did not start eating you out of house and home until puberty!

She is not overweight yet, but I definitely want to avoid that situation.

The problem is worse after dinner. I sometimes believe it is boredom. Any suggestions on some low key activities to keep her hands busy. We don't want to get her too riled up before bed. We try to suggest doing crafty things & such. I guess I would just like some more ideas that may not have occurred to me.

Also, would love to hear from other parents that are going through this early pre-puberty thing. I don't have much in the way of family or friends to help me out .

Answer 1

Aside from keeping healthy snacks at hand, and try upping the amount of fiber she eats at dinner - like whole wheat bread, brown rice, and lots of veggies, try getting her to learn a new hobby - like teach her to knit or something different. She might get SO psyched about it, she'll want to do it as often as possible! OR, you and she do manicures on each other frequently - she's not going to want to mess up fresh nail polish to snack.... And with the gross smell of it, she won't want it near her face! =)

Answer 2

She MAY actually be pre-pubescent. Kids are going through puberty very early these days...with menstrual periods at 9 or 10. My son just turned 13 and is 6'1" and shaves! One question to ask is "how old were you?" That is sometimes an indicator of puberty of children. Some say that the hormones in milk (to increase production in cows) causes early puberty. Who knows?

The thing to do, though, is educate your daughter so she can let you know if she develops signs. It may not be puberty, but letting kids know early is never a bad idea. Sometimes, kids go on eating binges and it seems like they can't get enough food. This typically happens before a growth spurt and their eating evens out afterwards.

To avoid a chronic problem and obesity (which is common in puberty), you should encourage good eating habits. Let her eat as much as she wants of the right kinds of healthy foods...fruits/veggies/etc. Also encourage physical activity. Don't let her binge on high calorie or high sugar drinks. She should be getting most of her calories through food. Pop, kool-aid, fruit juices are a waste of calories which she needs for fuel. Don't skimp on the milk, though. She needs that! But you can try 1% or skim at her age. Lesser fat milks have the same calcium content as the whole or 2% milk.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It could be that she's not consuming the right kinds of foods. High-carbohydrate foods get burned up quickly and leave a person feeling hungry, whereas foods that contain more fiber and protein will help your daughter feel full for longer. Also, remember that she's a growing kid and needs a lot of fuel for energy, especially if she plays sports or is an active kid. Encourage her to eat healthy and exercise and she should be fine. Perhaps before bed you could read a book or scrapbook together to wind down.

Answer 4

Keep healthy snacks on hand. Lots of fruits and veggies that she can grab and eat. As for activities, how about going for a walk together after dinner? Or do crafts together. Show her how to do counted cross-stitch. It is how my daughter relaxes at night. It is fun to do and she will have a nice handmade picture when she is done.