It has been a couple of weeks now that my girls 1 and 2 will not sit with the rest of the family to eat dinner. All they want to do is play and watch TV. I used to have a TV in the kitchen and I noticed since it has broked down that they do not want to eat w/us at dinner. Sometimes happens at breakfast time also. Is this normal? I almost feel like I need to get another TV for the kitchen just so they sit at the table. My mother(babysitter) does feed them in the afternoon, but not like a full meal. So I feel when I get home 2 hours later that they should have dinner with us. Should I not stress so much about it? I want to make sure their are getting enough of their daily protein, vitamins, etc.
You're the mother; you're in charge. Want them to have dinner at the table without t.v.? Then that's how they have dinner, or they don't eat. Period. (Don't feed them later, either, when they're hungry.) They will NOT starve.
Yes, you should stress about it, but not for nutritional reasons. Do not let them dictate how the family functions. It may mean reducing or eliminating their television time as well.
I wouldn't worry so much about their food intake but that you aren't sitting together as a family. I like to eat with my daughter and even my infant son I bring in the kitchen so that he sees us sitting together eating, with the TV OFF!!!
There is plenty of time for TV at other times in the day, not for mealtime. Kids shouldn't be getting any more than an hour a day of TV anyway. My daughter still likes to get down off her chair before we're done and sometimes we let her if it seems like a meltdown will occur otherwise but most times we don't. I swear that's why she can go to nice restaurants with us because she's not allowed to be excused from the table at home. I think it's important to have dinner together. Do you have a breakfast routine? Make at least one meal a family time.
I would make them a plate and have them sit there, if they like it or not. I would have your mother give them a snack-nothing big There is no TV on in our house during dinner or any other eating time. This is the time for you to talk and bond as a family. I don't let me kids watch TV more than an hour a day- they should be playing and being creative-not glued to a TV.
You're the adult, make them-I make my kids sit there while we are eating. I have a 16 month old and 2.5 year old.-both of them have to ask to be excused. This makes them learn manners and help with their behaviors-my 16 month is just started to talk, but she will point to the floor and shake her head- so we then let her down. But, you have to make them sit there, you control them-they shouldn't be controlling you.
Force them to sit at the table. I'd say that there aren't choices when it comes to family meal time!
We have a no TV during dinner rule. The kids used to complain & now they are used to it.
Unplug that TV and throw it out the window!
All kidding aside, you will need to work on modifying their habits so that they will sit for dinner. At dinner time, everyone goes to the table and eats. If they won't comply, strap them back into high chairs. Give them their food and let them eat. If they choose to not eat or play with/throw the food, then take it away. You're having enough problems as it is and you don't want to turn dinnertime into playtime. If they make the decision not to eat, no in between snacks until the next meal (definitely for the 2 year old, the 1 year old might be too young).
I wouldn't worry about it so... much. Kids that age like to eat when they get hungry. We train ourselves to eat on schedule, healthy or not. I would just ask your mom to give a very light or no snack and see if that helps.
Best wishes!
Like other posters here, we don't have the TV on during any meal. Even if the kids don't eat much, they still know to sit down and talk about events of the day at dinner. What gets my kids talking is I ask them what their favorite part of the day was. All three take turns and will raise their hand if they think of something else while another person is talking.
Your kids might be squirmy and restless now, but they'll come to enjoy this time with you all.
