When is snack/lunch time?

[Dreamalittledream]

I have a 4 year old that is always asking over and over again when the next mealtime is because she's apparently starving. Then, she proceeds to eat hardly anything. So frustrating!! Today, I tried to force her to finish the little bit (I've scaled down her portions & this was a snack of everything she likes) on her plate...during that 5 min she cried, said her tummy really hurt. Quite the dramatics. I finally gave up as mom arrived & was in a rush.

[mom-in-alberta]

I care for a two and a half year old boy that is the same way, always asking to eat. He doesn't have a problem with the actual eating though. In fact, I have posted about "cutting him off". He is not starved, thats for sure.
But all day long with the "X's HUN-reeeee" (he always refers to himself in third person). Staring at my fridge and cupboard. I asked mom and she says he's the same at home.
I don't know. Do you think she might be bored? I've been a bored eater for as long as I can remember. Or maybe she's coming down with a tummy bug? If she's getting crampy tummies, maybe she THINKS she is hungry. My girls just had a nasty virus that caused stomach pains that came and went.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Sometimes I truly do think it is just 'habit / routine' to ask questions like this and has nothing to do with them being actually 'hungry'?

I have one like that - first thing out of his mouth 'what we eating today' :rolleyes: You can tell him and 10 minutes later he will ask AGAIN. It has gotten to the point where I just say 'Asked and answered dude' and ignore him - cause otherwise he will just keep asking like a broken record - what we eating, when we eating, how long to we eating .... seriously we have the SAME routine everyday dude and your almost FIVE you should know by now when we are eating next. Although he actually EATS whenever food is served and is also one of those kids who has no cut off of being 'full' ... I truly think he asks theses things just cause he cannot think of any other way to start a conversation?

[Dreamalittledream]

Do you think she might be bored? I've been a bored eater for as long as I can remember. Or maybe she's coming down with a tummy bug? If she's getting crampy tummies, maybe she THINKS she is hungry. My girls just had a nasty virus that caused stomach pains that came and went.. Re: Bored. Yes, for sure I think that's it...she fleets from activity to activity in minutes, never settling on something for long at all. Funny thing is, her 1 year old sister is extremely independant and will play/create activities by herself no problem...on the rare occasion her sister actually leaves her alone and stops constantly redirecting her (when the 1 year old is contently playing by herself!). Definitely not a tummy bug; behaviour has benn ongoing since Jan., when she started. She starts school in Sept., I suspect it will be a challenge for her to focus.

[apples and bananas]

my problem isn't asking to be fed, they all think that the minute I walk into the kitchen food magically appears on the table. All three of them follow me in and stand around me whining and crying. I have to pull the milk out of the fridge and hide it on the counter when getting their cups ready. It drives me crazy! I feed a snack between 9 and 9:30 depending on drop off. Lunch I start to make at 11:15 and serve by 11:30 and afternoon snack is served between 3 and 3:30. Lately my little ones have been asking to go into their high chair by 8am (drop offs at 7am) so, i've been putting them up with some cheerios while I eat my breakfast.

[michellesmunchkins]

My guys are like yours apples and bananas. Nobody can walk into the kitchen without someone freaking out thinking its time for food, even if we just left the table after a meal! Its very frustrating and annoying some days for me. I go to the kitchen to throw out something in the garbage and have 4 kids hanging off the gate and then sobbing because they didn't get anything. I make it a habit to keep reminding them that just because someone is in the kitchen doesn't mean its time for food. My meal times are pretty much to the minute each day just to ensure everyone stays happy :)

[Sandbox Sally]

Snack here is 9:30 or 10, and lunch is at noon. Afternoon snack is around 3 or 3:30, depending on when everyone's up from nap.

[Momof4]

I serve breakfast at 8am to the children who arrive by that time, then lunch at 11:30 and afternoon snack at 3pm. I don't have any children like you ladies have described, but I do find that when I say I'm going to make lunch they are all standing at the doorway to the toyroom thinking it's ready in a few seconds. Then I turn around to see that and tell them to all go back to playing because it takes a long time for lunch to cook. Funny little people!

[littlebugsdaycare]

I have a 4 year old in care who is like this, she eats like a bird at lunch and now does not nap so about 40 minutes she is asking for food because she is hungry, so I tell her I have the rest of her lunch if she is hungry or she will have to wait until snack which is at 3:00. She is the hardest child I have ever had for food - now that she is very verbal she now runs to the table and then tells me what I serve her is 'yucky', mainly does not want homemade cheesy noodles but KD.

[littlebugsdaycare]

oh and times for meals here - morning snack is at 9:15 (after we get back from bringing my DD to school), lunch at 12:00, afternoon snack at 3:00 (to allow for time to get my DD at school)

[Yarnlover]

Our am snack is at 9:00 or 9:30, lunch at noon, and pm snack about 3:00.

Here's a question, I posted in another thread about my daughter scratching another child during free play when a toy was grabbed out of her hand. To other ppl use free play time to get meals ready or do most of you do this in advance? My kids are all between 18 mo and 2.5 years, I feel like if I am not right to them every second there is always a chance someone is going to pinch, grab, push, another one.

[playfelt]

The kids play while I do my things like make lunch. At the same time if my group is in this stage then I would bring them into the kitchen and set them up at the table to do an activity where they could be monitored. While they are having morning snack I do some prep for lunch.

When you are with them you might want to use a sterner voice when this kind of behaviour happens to reinforce that it is not allowed. If you watch the group you may find who the instigator seems to be and that child could be either taken with you or the kids removed when an issue does arise - lets them know you have eyes in the back of your head,lol. Also I will sometimes remove certain toys while I make lunch so they are limited to only a few so clean up when food is ready is quicker but also removes the most commonly fought over toys.

My gang learns very early on I don't tolerate their crap so by 2.5 if there was an issue they know they would be sitting on the kitchen floor sulking till lunch was ready so rarely challenge it. Even by 18 months they know my raised voice means don't do it again. Having said that there are just some kids and some groups of kids that don't get along for some reason. You might even have to do some actual training where during freeplay you step in before issues happen to teach them what to do such as it is ok to put your hands out to protect your personal space - prevents getting bit. It is ok to play alone and the others have to sit by quietly and wait their turn or find something else to do in the meantime, those kinds of things. As language comes the kids will start to use the words they have heard you using in similar situations such as sit down, it is my turn now.

[Yarnlover]

Thanks for your reply. Today I gave everyone playdoh on their highchair tables while I made lunch. I think I will keep this up for times when I can't step in as quickly.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yarnlover - my crew has to earn the right to be out of 'sight' ... so if they have not built that trust of consistent gentle behaviour and conflict resolution than they are in the kitchen with me while I prepare meals and snacks.... if you have issues with hands on behaviour and need support to remember that than you are my SHADOW at all waking times in the program ... if my hands are busy changing a diaper you are holding the wipes or clean diaper for me so I know you are 'occupied', if I have to go pee - you come with me and read a book, if I am feeding the babe you are beside me reading a book and so forth .... you earn the right to be 'free' during those times through needing my help less and less during other times of the day ;)

[Yarnlover]

Thanks for the reply Reggio (and sorry for thread jacking). I can actually see the kids just fine from the kitchen, but being even a few steps away means someone could get hair pulled etc. before I can be quick enough to stop it. Not to say this happens often anyways, i am just afraid of it happening again. Nobody likes to see a mark,( scratch, bump, bruise etc...) no matter how small, on their child.