Children's eating habits are very important for their development. That's why parents get very worried when their children eat less or are picky eaters. There may be many different reasons why children choose to eat or not eat.
Since preschool children are more active, sitting still and eating for a certain period of time while there are stimulants around them can be boring for them. Additionally, children may not be aware of the amount and type of food they eat. For this reason, it is recommended that children do not have stimulants such as toys, phones or tablets around them while eating.
Children may like some foods in certain periods and dislike others, and this may vary from period to period. If the child can eat enough and meet his/her nutritional needs, there should be no worry about not eating foods he/she does not like.
They can also choose food in order to accept their deficits and declare their independence. They want to show that they can decide what to eat and how much to eat and that they are an independent individual. In this case, children's refusal to eat or choosing food should not be perceived as stubbornness by parents and children should not be contradicted. Instead of conflicting with children, for example, two separate vegetable dishes can be made and the child can choose which one to eat. In this way, the child not only eats a healthy vegetable meal but also demonstrates his independence by making his own decisions.
Parents are not recommended to exhibit threatening behavior or use reward and punishment methods to get their children to eat. Because this situation can have a negative impact on both the mental and emotional development of children. The reward method may have a negative effect on children establishing a real bond with food and thinking that food is a need. For example, in the reward method, when the child is rewarded with an unhealthy snack when he eats his meal, the child can develop positive feelings and thoughts towards the unhealthy snack and increase his interest in snacks. Thus, children may gravitate towards unhealthy foods more, or the purpose of eating may be just to get a reward. Before and between meals Consumption of unhealthy snacks should be limited in order to create a healthy diet and meal plan.
Children can be informed not to leave the table during the meal and that there is a certain period of time for eating and that the table will be cleared afterward. In addition, if eating times are in a certain order, children may begin to adapt to this order.
Preparing different presentations for children that will attract their attention and combining foods they do not like with foods they like, may be a solution that makes eating more fun, instead of being a necessity. .
Doing activities such as shopping and preparing meals with children can also contribute to their motivation and regularization of their eating habits.
Children observe and take example from their parents in eating habits, as in everything else. For this reason, parents are expected to take care to consume healthy foods as an example for their children. Having parents who pay attention to healthy eating can also encourage children to eat healthy.
Collecting points can also be used to encourage eating. A table can be created and when the child eats his/her meal, he and his parents can determine signs such as pasting a sticker or drawing a smiley face on the table. After collecting a certain number of points, the child and his parents can do an activity they like together. However, here again, it is important that the reward be a moral reward, not a reward with material value, and that it be done together with the parents.
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