Dinner Time
You're staring at a full plate of spaghetti while your child refuses to budge, arms crossed like a tiny activist on a hunger strike. It's frustrating. Been there, done that, more times than I like to admit. So what to do?
Don’t Fight, Pivot
First, avoid turning dinner into a standoff. When my kid first entered the 'I won’t eat' phase, it was like negotiating with a tiny, stubborn diplomat. Here’s a tip: give them control—or at least the illusion of it. You might say, 'Do you want to try the spaghetti or the broccoli first?' This shifts the focus from what they won’t do to a choice they can make.
Why the Resistance?
Kids often refuse dinner because they're tired, or maybe they're just in a mood. The right food at the wrong time can be the issue too. Sometimes, they didn't see the Capri-Sun on the table and assumed they might die of dehydration unless they fill up on juice first.
Practical Moves
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The Opt-in Game: Turn it into a game. I'll say, 'Let's see who can make the silliest face while eating a carrot!' Not foolproof, but oddly effective.
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Timing is Everything: Dinner at the same time every day helps establish routine. For us, that's around 6:30 PM. On the dot? Rarely. But predictability helps.
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Try the Smidge Rule: Encourage a 'thank you' bite. 'Okay, if you don't like it after one bite, we can try something else.' It’s amazing how often 'one bite' becomes 'half the plate'. Not always, but often enough to try.
In Real Life
Once, my daughter, Sophie, declared war on peas. 'I don’t like them,' she announced, with the authority of a seasoned food critic. Instead of arguing, I said, 'I bet you can't eat one while hopping on one foot.' She tried it. Laughed mid-hop. Ate three more. Your results may vary, but there's joy in the attempt.
Closing Thought
This won't fix every meal (I still mess this up sometimes). But maybe, just maybe, you'll win a small victory tonight. And isn't that what parenting is—a collection of small victories that gradually add up? Well, sort of.