Dinnertime is never easy
I wanted hot dogs!
Dinnertime for a toddler is always full of adventure. Gone are the days where you could place your child in a high chair and put food in front of them and they generally would try it. They are older and have found they have mobility and choices. They can make eating, for any parent, a challenge.
Parents should remember that dinnertime doesn’t have to become difficult. If anything, we are the good role models children need on eating. If we eat healthy foods like fish, grilled chicken and vegetables it is much more likely that our children will too. We should remember, it is very difficult to explain, to a toddler, why we can eat potato chips for dinnertime and they can’t.
Parents should watch what they say about not liking certain foods. Our children will “think” they don’t like something without ever trying it. If we want our children to try new foods then we have to keep trying various things and not let them have a preconceived idea about foods because “we” don’t like them.
Even with the best suggestions, eating and toddlers often becomes comically frustrating. In our house we normally try to eat in the dining room but because of some home improvement project dinner has moved to the living room temporarily.
I like cheese!
Me: It’s time to get ready for dinnertime Xan. (thinking he will be hungry for a fajita)
Xan: I don’t like it! (playing in living room)
Me: How do you know you don’t like it? You don’t even know what we are having! (smiling and thinking at least I am trying)
Xan: I know! I don’t like it! I need hot dog! (heads toward refrigerator)
Me: Why don’t you at least see what we are having before you don’t like it? (shaking head in disbelief)
Xan: Alright!!!! (said with sadness)
I give Xander a plate of fajita meat, cheese, sour cream and cut up shells so he can make his own mini fajita
Xan: OH!!! CHEESE!! I like it! (takes bite quickly)
Me: I told you that you might like it.
Xan: No! I like cheese! (said with conviction)
I am not sure why Xander just liked the cheese. He ate all the cheese and most everything else. I knew better than to say anything more. He would have stopped eating and insisted he didn’t like it. Sometimes, I find it’s better just to say as little as possible and ignore eating at dinnertime. My meals are more peaceful and he actually eats!
1 point Xander for not liking dinner before he even knew what it was, 1 point dada for not giving in and getting Xander to see what dinner was at least
Tags: dinnertime, eating, fatherhood, meals, toddler
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/KS2XQcOp via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/zYJGvTBo
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/oZYhSaRS via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/KjKrqqzJ via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/wW07o51g via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/q3nhOLaz via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/bCOnmO3o via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/jOMXIVgO via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/sroDfOC8 via @Dadblunders
Dinnertime is never easy http://t.co/UwJR0uQF via @Dadblunders
Absolutely Aaron!
Dinnertime is never easy for kids, unless they are trained right from the time they are young. This is something I took care of when my kids were younger and now they are well trained.
We had a rule in the house to eat what’s put on the table and we ensure that kids eat all that puts on their plates. Yes, when children are young, they don’t like the taste of a few things. But that changes with time and shortly they start liking the food, provided we as parents re-introduce it after brief intervals. Their taste buds take a little time to develop the taste.
My kids never used to like spinach and carrots, but with time they got alright and as parents we need to make sure to introduce a variety of dishes also so that they start liking the taste.
Similarly, there was a time when they were young when they wanted to be fed or would eat only when in-front of the television. I did allow it intially, just so that they would eat something. But I became strict soon thereafter and they understood that fact.
In-fact I used to tell them to end their meals quick and then sit and watch television or play with their friends. So, both the things were linked – which made things easier still. Now of course, they know the rules and follow it.
I guess parenting is never really easy, but if you are patient and able to train your kids right from the time they are young, it isn’t difficult either.
Thanks for sharing.
You are so right Harleena! Parenting s never easy, It’s all about consistency , patience and love.
I always find it amazing that foods we often didn’t like as a child, we might like as an adult. I know part of that is because we have more taste buds at age 3 then any other time in our life. They start to die off and become less sensitive as we get older. So, if my son says he doesn’t like it, I realize he might still someday.
I am not overly fond of the television being on during dinner either. I like to have it as family time where we all get together. I am currently working on a home improvement project though so dinner has moved into the living room for awhile. I try to be flexible when we are in the living room and will let the television stay on. After all being a parent is learning to be flexible.
Aaron
P.S. I received two messages this morning for this post both of them in the spam folder. They both came through together at the same time (computers are wonderful but sometimes they do weird things). I picked the one it showed was most recent….I hope that its the one you wanted posted. If not let me know….
Ah…I’m glad you got my earlier one. I don’t really remember it now though. You can choose anyone you like – no problems.
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