12/13/2024
Mealtime Language 💚
The language you use at mealtime can make a huge impact on your child’s success. Try this simple change I learned through Kay Toomey’s course.
Take the emotion out of eating and keep language neutral.
DON’T:
✖️Ask your kids what they want at mealtime. That’s your job to decide. And when they’re hungry, you know the answer will always be something like “chicken nuggets” or “fish crackers”.
✖️Beg and plead them to take a bite. Imagine if someone kept begging you to try something unappetizing to you (for me, olives). It would get really annoying after awhile and it wouldn’t make you want to eat it any more.
✖️Tell then you’ll love them more or that you’ll feel happy if they eat something. We want them to eat because THEY want to eat it. Because it makes THEM feel good. Eating to please others isn’t healthy.
✖️Ask then a yes/no question. When you ask a child a yes/no question, the answer will almost always be NO.
✖️Ask if they like it right after trying something new. Sometimes it takes time to process. Just like above, the answer will always be no, even if they’re not sure about it yet. We don’t want to give a label before it’s even decided.
Instead, talk about the properties of the food, and focus on your own plate, not your child’s.
DO:
✔️Talk about what you’re eating. Your child will observe and learn and imitate.
✔️Describe the sounds the food makes when you’re biting it: crunchy, soft, hard, smooth.
✔️Talk about what you can see. The colors, the shapes, the sizes. This is great use of language without emotion.
✔️ Use indirect questions like “I wonder...” Give your child the opportunity to choose something to talk about or try. They’ll do better when it’s their own idea.
✔️Have everyday conversation. This is a great time to share about your day and give your child the opportunity to talk to you. Without any comments on what they are eating. Help your child learn that mealtime is an enjoyable time to sit down and share with the ones we love. ❤️
