08/05/2022
Learning from kids
My child does not eat, is one of the commonest concern of parents. Over the years, I have been explaining to parents, how to deal with it? But we keep on learning. I am sharing few observations which other parents may also notice.
I was taking my dinner. My two year old granddaughter came to me. I offered a cooked mutter piece. She rejected it. The next moment, she picked a piece from my plate and ate it.
At this age, kids want to imitate. She saw that her grandfather was eating on his own. She wanted to do the same herself.
There are times when she first offers food to her toy dog, then eats herself. Sometimes, we offer food to pigeons or monkey as a game, then she accepts. Sometimes, she accepts food while she is playing with water.
My regular advice has been that whenever child feels hungry, child will eat. But now I observe and other parents have conveyed that a hungry child becomes irritable. It becomes difficult to calm him/her. Now, I feel that diversion of mind may be justified in some situations.
Few suggestions:
1. Treat the child as an individual. The child will decide what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat.
2. Child's likes and dislikes often change.
3. It is for us as parents to decide what not to give. Avoid junk foods, excess of salt, sugar or ghee and butter.
4. The end result of eating is that the child should be active.
