What's cookin' ?

[RandBlade]

I don't know Rand, that seems the path to eating disorders....eating shouldn't be a negative. I don't think there's a problem with telling them "This is what we're eating" but I've never understood people who force their kids to eat every morsel on their plate. What if the kid is full before then? (I'm okay with no dessert and such, it's just the EAT EVERYTHING ON YOUR PLATE that always worries me)

In my parents' house the rule was "at least try it". If we absolutely hated it, then no worries, just eat everything else we liked. I can't imagine if my mom had forced me to eat nasty spinach....

Also, Scarlett isn't even two yet guys....as long as she eats a variety throughout the week who cares if she eats only meat one meal and veggies another? Toddlers take awhile to get the whole "Variety" concept

EDIT: How did you do that OG? Pierce the dogs with uncooked spaghetti and then boil it all? It's kinda cute, especially if it got the older kids involved in helping

Scarlett's still a baby, I was talking about older kids.

I don't think you should force a child to eat too much, but I don't think (older) kids should get a different meal just because they were fussy. My parents attitude has always been you'll eat what you're given or you won't eat, so now I eat anything.

[Khendraja'aro]

Scarlett's still a baby, I was talking about older kids.

I don't think you should force a child to eat too much, but I don't think (older) kids should get a different meal just because they were fussy. My parents attitude has always been you'll eat what you're given or you won't eat, so now I eat anything.

That's mistaking correlation for causality. Again, it's a phase. It will pass.

[RandBlade]

That's mistaking correlation for causality. Again, it's a phase. It will pass.

It won't pass if you give in every time. I know you'll say correlation again but I know plenty of people whose parents give in every time who then grow up to be the fussiest of eaters.

[Khendraja'aro]

It won't pass if you give in every time. I know you'll say correlation again but I know plenty of people whose parents give in every time who then grow up to be the fussiest of eaters.

I don't buy that. Again, it's a biological phase like puberty. A baby will eat nearly anthying their parents give them. Upon reaching a certain age, they'll begin to reject some foods. That has several different possible reasons.
For instance, your example of having to "stay strong in the face of adversity" may cause the exact opposite of what you want.

Ever watched a small child fall down and, say, bump its knees? Sometimes it will look around and see if anyone noticed. If the mother watched, then it will begin to cry, the mother will make a fuss over it and so on. Happens because the kid knows that if it cries, it will get attention.
Same thing with food. Sometimes it's not so much about the food itself, it's about the attention. Any kind of attention. And if they get that attention, it will reinforce that particular behaviour.
Sometimes it's best to simply ignore it.

[RandBlade]

I don't buy that. Again, it's a biological phase like puberty. A baby will eat nearly anthying their parents give them. Upon reaching a certain age, they'll begin to reject some foods. That has several different possible reasons.
For instance, your example of having to "stay strong in the face of adversity" may cause the exact opposite of what you want.

Ever watched a small child fall down and, say, bump its knees? Sometimes it will look around and see if anyone noticed. If the mother watched, then it will begin to cry, the mother will make a fuss over it and so on. Happens because the kid knows that if it cries, it will get attention.
Same thing with food. Sometimes it's not so much about the food itself, it's about the attention. Any kind of attention. And if they get that attention, it will reinforce that particular behaviour.
Sometimes it's best to simply ignore it.

Again it depends what type of child you're talking about. I've already said I'm not referring to babies. For children say 6-12 (ish) though it becomes different.

[Khendraja'aro]

Again it depends what type of child you're talking about. I've already said I'm not referring to babies. For children say 6-12 (ish) though it becomes different.

The proccess of "wanting attention" is not limited to babies. It also works for toddlers, schoolchildren, teenagers and adults. It's basic psychology - and it does not simply disappear with age. If anything, it becomes more sophisticated.

I myself can remember at least two occasions in my adult life where I did something pretty daft to get attention from someone who I thought was neglecting me.

Or did you never hear of the tactic: "I want his/her attention, so I'll flirt with someone else and make him/her jealous"? Same thing, really.