06/11/2025
Are mealtimes a circus in your house?
Do you find your children sit beautifully at the table and eat everything for other caregivers?
The minute you walk through the door it becomes a circus 🎪
I’ve been the nanny in this situation on numerous occasions . Mum or Dad walk in, the children end up on the table, under the table, walking around, refusing to eat….
WHY do they do this?
1. They have missed you all day
2. They want your attention (because they have missed you)
3. Inconsistent boundaries between caregivers
WHAT can you do?
1. Don’t be on your phone when you first see them, give your children your FULL attention.
2. Tell your children how much you have missed them, give hugs and kisses etc.
3. Sit at the table with the children, let them know you are there with them until they finish eating.
4. Your dinner looks lovely what are you eating next your brócoli or pasta, you choose (choices gives them power) Give praise.
5. If you can eat with your children - even better! Model good eating habits.
6. Talk about the day - what was the best part of your day, what was the worse, what are you looking forward to tomorrow?
7. Tell your children- once we are finished we get to play. What would you like to play, have a think, you choose. Once we finish we play.
8. Be consistent with boundaries at every mealtime.
What are your biggest mealtime problems?
*refusing food
*not sitting
*needing a screen to eat
*throwing food
Let me know in the comments 👇
