8 Tips for Parents with Picky Eaters

You know you have picky eaters when your kids turn their head away from food, push away the spoons or get cranky at meal time. But why do kids turn into picky eaters?

The picky eating behavior can either develop due to a number of reasons or for no reason at all. Sometimes it’s because of an immature digestive system, parents that reward or punish them for their eating behaviors or they are beginning to develop their own food preferences. Dealing with this common behavior in children may be frustrating, but here are several tips you can use to help you tame a picky eater. 

Do not force feed

Even if it seems as if your child has only eaten very little food, never force feed them. They might have already had enough and they will eat if they still feel hungry. When they turn their head away from the spoon or start spitting food, don’t force it anymore. They might associate eating with discomfort and might dread meal times moving forward. 

Eat together as a family

Make it a habit to share mealtimes with the whole family and do it as often as you can. Be sure to avoid media distractions while at the dining table. There shouldn’t be TV or electronics. Make use of this time to model healthy eating. If your little one doesn’t feel like eating what is served, don’t prepare another meal for them as this will only encourage the picky eating behavior. 

Don’t fight with them when they refuse to eat

Instead of forcing your little to eat when they refuse a meal, let them listen to their bodies and allow hunger to make them eat. If they had a big lunch, you can’t expect them to eat much at dinner time. Never pressure or punish them when they don’t want to do it. Let them decide for themselves or they might dislike mealtimes and food all together. 

Be creative with recipes and presentation

Making food appealing can go a long way, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative. For example, if you want to introduce fruits and vegetables to your little one, you can cut carrots and apples into fun shapes and sizes or add a few spinach leaves to their favorite smoothie. Also, try out new recipes that incorporate veggies. Who knows what you can get your child to eat healthy without them knowing! 

Be a role model for your child

Many parents do not realize it but their food choices create a tremendous impact on their children’s diet. Young kids learn about eating habits and food preferences by observing others. If your child sees you incorporating healthy food items in your home cooked meals and eating fruits and veggies frequently, they are more likely going to follow suit. So, if you haven’t been doing it, it’s about time that you start making it a norm in your household to eat nutritious food. 

Don’t bribe your kids

As much as you want your child to finish their meals, bribery isn’t the best way to make it happen. Don’t get them to eat because there’s an exciting prize waiting for them. This will only give them the impression that eating the food they are served is an unpleasant chore which may lead to a constant battle at the dining table.

Get them involved in meal preparations

To encourage them to eat healthily, it is an excellent idea to have your kids tag along during grocery shopping and cooking. When you visit the grocery, let your kids select which fruits and vegetables they want to have for lunch and dinner. Then get them involved in the kitchen as you prepare meals and try out new fun recipes. 

Start with small portions

While we want to make sure our kids are getting enough calories and nutrients they need, feeding them smaller portions is better. One of the reasons why kids refuse to eat is because they feel overwhelmed with bigger servings. Start with small tastes and gradually increase the amount of their food if they do well.

One of the biggest struggles many parents face is dealing with picky eaters. But with the help of these tips, you can get your little one to appreciate and enjoy mealtime. 

For more tips on parenting and raising kids, or if you’re looking for a school that promotes holistic growth and development, feel free to contact The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

The post 8 Tips for Parents with Picky Eaters appeared first on The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

from The Pillars Christian Learning Center https://ift.tt/2X60LJi
via IFTTT

6 Effective Ways to Improve your Kids Behavior

“Raising a well-mannered and responsible child is easy”, said no parent ever. Parenting is downright difficult. But no matter how overwhelming it may be, we still strive to do our very best to raise kids who are polite, have the right behaviors and who are going to be successful in the future. Proper behavior doesn’t only make parents feel proud, but it also helps children become happier and stress-free. It helps creates a positive impact on their emotional and social wellbeing, and it shapes them into becoming a responsible and successful grown up. There’s no better time to begin improving your child’s behavior than now and you can start it with the help of these tips.

Notice good behaviors

Just like in adults, praise and compliments are music to the ears of young kids. It makes them feel good when their positive behaviors are recognized. However, this is one of the several things many parents overlook. We tend to notice the bad behaviors more than the good ones. So, instead of constantly nagging your child about being stubborn or restless, catch them being good and let them know you notice it. Tell them how you like the way they showed kindness to a friend or shared their favorite toy with their sibling. It will encourage them to continue the positive behaviors in the future.

Handle stress with patience

How do you handle stressful moments when you’re with your kids? How do you react to poor customer service at a restaurant or deal with a traffic jam on a Monday morning? Dealing with situations that test your patience in front of a child can be very tough. However, these circumstances are excellent opportunities for children to learn about being adaptable. And during the rare times when you weren’t able to hold it anymore and lose your temper, don’t be afraid to apologize and explain to your child how things should be done differently.

Spend quality time with your kids

No amount of toys, gadgets and entertainment will ever replace the time parents spend with their children. Make quality time a daily priority. Make it a habit to have one-on-one time with your little one every day. Whether it’s preparing a meal, reading a book together, playing with their toys or just watching their favorite cartoons, the important thing is that you’re investing time in your children.

Be consistent with routines

Young kids respond well to routines. That’s why parents are encouraged to establish consistent and defined routines at home. Be sure to have mealtime, playtime and bedtime scheduled at the same time every day. However, it may also help if you ask them to decide how the routines will go. For example, you can ask them which part of dressing up they want to do first – brushing their teeth or combing their hair? The important thing is that you stick to the routine every day.

Communicate with your child

A child will always misbehave at one point or another. They don’t understand the concept of right or wrong. When correcting a child’s misbehavior, be sure to use the right communication. Never punish or correct them in public. Speak to them in private as soon as you get the chance. Find out what went wrong and hear them out. Let them explain their side and explain to them, too, why their behavior wasn’t acceptable.

Keep a positive and happy environment at home

A person’s positive and happy disposition begins at home. So, make sure that you create this kind of environment at home. Keep things fun and lighthearted even when you’re stressed out. Be a role model for your kids. Increase the energy and smile often. This kind of vibe is contagious and it will help your child develop a positive outlook, too.

As a parent, you have the ability to create the greatest impact on your child’s behavior. And if your goal is to start seeing better behavior from them, these tips will definitely come in handy!

Give your little one the best early childcare they deserve and send them to a school that doesn’t just teach them the right behaviors, but shapes them into better and more responsible adults. Please feel free to visit The Pillars Christian Learning Center for more information.

 

 

The post 6 Effective Ways to Improve your Kids Behavior appeared first on The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

from The Pillars Christian Learning Center http://bit.ly/2MUxEsU
via IFTTT