Quote Originally Posted by Lee-Bee View Post
Is the child old enough to ask if he wants snack? I'd likely ask (even an 18month old can answer) and get him some if he says he wants some. I'd offer because if he hasn't eaten since breakfast then lunch is a far time away, and I find behavior issues arise with hungry children, and i'd rather the extra work of getting snack than the extra work of a hungry, misbehaving child!!
You see I'd be wary of this as while an 18 month old may be able to ask for food, it may not be wise to assume they are able to make that call for themselves. I have a 17 month old who asks me for toast all day. Am I supposed to give her that when she asks because she has the competence to know what's best for her? Not at all. The only thing she knows is that she likes toast. If a kid knows I serve their favourite snack that they don't get at home they could totally ask me because they want it and like it, but it doesn't mean they need it or are even hungry, just that they want it. I wouldn't think it appropriate to rely on an 18 month old to request food. Most of my kids will eat and eat and eat if I allowed it. I have a 3 1/2 yr old dcb right now who eats a breakfast of champions at home. He eats breakfast at 7am religiously. He eats a big bowl of oatmeal with fruits and seeds, sometimes followed by a slice of toast with some nut butter. He eats like a horse. By 9am he is asking if it is lunchtime yet. No way after that amount of food is it healthy for me to give in to his request. I think it's a reflection of boredom not hunger. How many people eat out of habit or boredom and mistaken it for hunger. Free play isn't enough for him anymore due to his age, but that is my first thing routine so I can chase my kids out of the door. Once he gets on task with an activity after that, I don't get requests. If he was really hungry, he is at an age where he could ask and mean it but if he then goes a couple of hours not saying anything as a result of being engaged and stimulated at an appropriate level, then that really shows me that he isn't hungry at all. We have a very light snack in the AM as lunch around here is at 11:30 due to my crew needing nap by 12. Afternoon nap is more substantial to see them to dinner time.