The list of things about parenting that can be pretty stressful is one that probably never ends. As amazing as being a parent is, there are plenty of moments that have you ready to yank your hair out. For a lot of parents, there are few situations where this is more true than dinner time. Trying to get your kids to sit down and actually eat something can often feel like a virtually insurmountable task. However, that’s not the way it has to be. Here are just a few things that you can do to make dinner time with fussy easier a little bit easier.
Get them trying different foods early
One of the most common mistakes that a lot of parents make is that they assume that their kids are too young to try new foods. They keep them on safe, relatively bland foods for a long time and then act surprised when they turn their noses up at something a little different. However, if you get your kids trying different things from the start, even if it’s just food off your own plate, they’ll be much more likely to be open to new foods in the future. Something like the sukiyaki recipe available here might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to feeding your kids but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t expose them to different foods. It’s a great way to help them feel more adventurous with food as they grow.
Do your best to stay calm
When you feel like you’re at war with your kids over the dinner, it’s incredibly easy to find yourself getting annoyed or even angry. The problem is that if you let tempers flair then it’s just going to create other problems. The best thing you can do is to stay calm and keep the focus on actually eating. Getting into an argument about it with your kids is just going to serve as a distraction.
Don’t beat yourself up over it
One of the most common results of a child who’s a fussy eater is a parent who assumes that it means they’re doing something wrong. This is not the case. Some kids just don’t want to certain foods and some are just looking to test boundaries as they grow. These are all completely normal and aren’t any kind of reflection on you as a parent. As long as you keep at it and you don’t get discouraged it will, in all likelihood, just turn out to be a passing phase.
Here’s one thing that you should always keep in mind when you find yourself struggling to get your kids to eat: you were likely a pretty fussy eater at one point in your life. The truth is that even the fussiest child eventually grows up and learns to stop making a big deal out of trying new foods. Sometimes the key is to just have patience and remember that, however stressful it might be, it’s not going to last forever.
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