Hi ladies!
I was hoping for some helpful suggestions. I've taken on a temporary contract of 4 yrs old twins for 3 months. They are our next door neighbours which makes the situation increasingly awkward to discuss with the parents/our friends.
The rule at my house (and please let me know if you think I'm being unreasonable), is that they must finish their meal before they can go play and if there is something that they REALLY dislike that must at least try a bite before they can be finished.
All of the kids have no issues with this rule and usually clean their plates anyways! Well, one of the 4 yrs olds (they started tihs week), is having a terrile time really following any of the house rules. We are working on this, but it's the meal time that's really getting my feathers ruffled. The veggie in today's lunch was yellow peppers...he ate everything else and pushed his plate away and said "I don't like peppers". So I responded saying that it's great to try new things and so to take a bite and he can go play. Well, the kids one by one all around him finished, got their small dessert, then went to play and he just sat their making ridiculous whining noises. I reminded him a few times that all he needs to do is take one bite and then he can be all done. So while the kids played, he sat for about 10 minutes after everyone had left the table. So I sat with him and explained the rules again, and why it's important to eat our vegetables, etc and he full out burst into tears and started screaming!!! I'm guessing that this is a fine way for him to get his way at home so I didn't relent but after 10 minutes of a full out 4 yrs old tantrum,I removed him from the table, told him that he wasn't getting dessert today and put him in our cozy corner to calm himself down. I HATE that I gave in, HATE IT!!! But it went on for so long that I had to put the littles to bed, and he couldn't be screaming while they're trying to sleep. After he calmed down, we discussed again and he apologized (another thing we are working on because he acts like a baby when we are problem solving/apologizing.) This isn't the first time either that he's given me a very hard time during meals, just the first time it ended in a full blown tantrum.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
I think my "rule" is reasonable...exposin g them to different tastes, and healthy foods. One bite is reasonable to me and all of the other kids.
Any helpful hints?? Or anyone been in the same situation???