“I know my child is hungry, but he refuses”,
“He eats very slowly”,
“He does not sit at the table at meal time”,
“He does not watch TV "He doesn't eat",
"He picks a lot of food"…
Many parents worry that their children are eating little or not enough. At this point, it is necessary to understand a few situations well to understand whether there is a need to worry or not. Especially if your child is before the age of 6, he or she may find it difficult to sit and wait in one place for a long time. At this age, children may be more active, less patient, and may want to engage with many stimuli in the environment at the same time. For these reasons, your child may choose to watch TV, play games, talk, and leave the table frequently instead of eating.
In addition, at certain ages and times, your child may like some tastes and not others. Your child's taste may vary to a degree that may surprise you. Parents' concerns about their child's eating behavior arise because of their unrealistic assumptions about the amount and type of food they think their child should eat. If your child eats certain foods, there is no problem in not eating a food he does not like.
The Desire to Eat in Children
As your child's body develops rapidly between the ages of 0-2, There is a decrease in this speed after the age of 2, and since a more stable development requires less energy, this situation, which is actually normal but seen as a problem such as "loss of appetite" for some families, may cause concern. For this reason, you should remember that your child needs less food at certain ages.
Children's refusal to eat can also be seen as a kind of need for independence. Your child's refusal to eat in such situations or saying that he hates any food or even insisting on not eating may be a situation that he exhibits to prove that he is independent from you and to show that he exists as an individual. The important thing is not to see such behavior as "stubbornness" and not to turn this situation into a war.
In such situations, parents, along with the anxiety they feel, may threaten their children. They may know (such as if you don't finish your meal, we won't go to the park), they may force their children to eat (they may run after their children with a spoon and plate in their hands), or they may punish them. Such attitudes can negatively affect your child's emotional and mental development. Especially when families use rewards such as "I'll give you chocolate if you eat your food", this can lead to unhealthy results such as children constantly consuming sugar. Therefore, as parents, such encouraging attitudes should be avoided.
Also, "If you eat this, you will become huge" is also used by parents to encourage children to eat. Sentences like this are far from reality. Be sure to keep in mind that your child does not believe in such sentences and therefore your child will not change his eating behavior.
To regulate your child's eating habits;
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Food Clarify your hours. In particular, clarify the breakfast, lunch and dinner times and make them a routine.
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At meal times, ask your child the amount you will put on his plate and what food he wants to eat. If he decides what to eat and how much to eat, he will gain the habit of eating more easily.
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Clarify the specific rules to be followed during the meal. For example; Do not talk when there is food in your mouth, do not watch TV while eating, do not leave the table until the meal is finished.
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The average time required to eat is 20 or 30 minutes. Explain that the table will be cleared when this time is over, and clear the table whether your child has eaten or not. If he comes to you after a while and says he is hungry, warm up the food he left unfinished and offer it. Don't worry if he doesn't say he is hungry for a long time, he will be able to tolerate hunger up to a certain point.
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Restrict snacking between meals. This way, he will eat when he is hungry.
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Offer a variety of healthy food options during the meal and leave your child free to eat whatever he wants from the table. rest.
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As parents, try to set a good example for your child regarding eating habits. Stay away from snacks, avoid complaining about food in front of your child, and eat healthy foods. Remember that your child will take your eating behavior as an example, just as he takes your every behavior as an example. Involve them in situations such as food selection and cooking. In this way, you will be informed about your child's taste.
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Let your child have control, so you will see that eating times are no longer a battle.
As your child grows, his desire to eat and his taste will change. Over time, you will see that your eating habits become regulated.
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