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When the food starts to hit the floor, mealtime is over. I will remove the food remaining and they sit until we are all done. They also get a stern, "NO. Food does NOT go on the floor."
If I find that it's a big challenge, as in an all the time habit, I will bring it up with mom and dad to ensure that they are reprimanding at home. Sometimes parents don't think it's a big deal. But when we have 3 or more kids doing it, it becomes a big deal!!
Thank you for all the advise. I only gave him little bits at a time today. If he motioned to throw it, I removed it and put it back on the plate on the big table. No plates on the tray, just food and just what he's eating it. He started to catch on fast. Throwing food on the floor lost all of the excitment when I didn't give him any to throw. Now, the dogs... they aren't too happy with the new procedure. lol
I'll suggest mom follows through with this on the weekend and see if we can make any improvments.
Another thing I have heard from another daycare provider I know is to stand right beside the child throughout mealtime and every time the child tries to throw, you grab his hand and say no and make him put it on the tray. I could never follow through with this myself because I have so many little ones who need my attention during mealtimes (I serve small amount to reduce waste, so I am often doling out more to one kid or another etc). However, if you have a smaller group or a less needy group, this could work too.
I have had children in care who have dogs at home and I'm pretty sure that's why their parents didn't reprimand them or mind of food went on the floor. That's completely understandable and maybe they didn't think about that before their child started daycare. But every time I ask parents to help me get the child to stop they have helped. Bottom line is that the parents have to be on our side!
I made mine pick up the food they've throw but they were older.
Maybe the dogs shouldn't be allowed near lunch . . . maybe he does it to attract the dogs?
I might check out that place mat though . . . I could use that since my daughter has learned how to drink the milk from her cereal bowl . . . . . except she actually sucks at it and doesn't even wait until she's finished the actual cereal