to expect my kids to eat their breakfast in less than half an hour!!!

[sparklesandwine]

My two eldest 8 and 5 take so long to eat its getting bloody silly, they only have cereal or toast or something along those lines. I do sit with them and try to jolly them along whilst i'm feeding the younger 2 but they just keep mucking about which makes me shout and puts us all in a bad mood before we even go to school. I don't want to set a timer or anything like that but I just want them to eat breakfast in less time. Has anyone got any ideas of what I can do to hurry them up?

[rhubarb90]

DS used to do this too, but he knows now that he has 15 mins and after that it gets taken away. Tell them the start time and end time and tell them it's tough luck if they haven't finished by then. It'll work eventually, honestly.

[Furrymummy]

You mean you actually give them breakfast lol
My dss's mum had the same prob with dss, she tried a similar thing, timining him and then taking his plate away if he hadn't eaten by the time limit! Eventually he got bored of going to school hungry!

[sparklesandwine]

lol - yeah your right i do let them fuck about actually i think i really need to sort it out and take charge again really

[Tortington]

i wouldnt let mine fuck about for half an hour - it would be " 10 mins - then it gets binned"

[Tortington]

they will be hungry by dinner time. don't fret over it.

[titchy]

So they take half and hour then you're off to school? What's the prob then - let them take half an hour! If they've finished great if not tough!

[sparklesandwine]

No we don't have the telly on at breakfast time and they are always ready for school before they come down to it so they can eat and then we go. I don't know it driving me mad, now think they are doing it just to see how far they can push me

[gingerone]

We have a big clock and they know that at 7.45, it gets cleared away.

Ours much about until 7.44 when suddenly they develop monumental appetites.

[maisemor]

Do you let them watch tv at the same time? or have some other kind of distractions?

If they are dressed and otherwise ready to go when you sit down for breakfast, you could maybe just give them a slice of toast whilst walking to school. If we are late I tend to give them some weetabix to eat on the way.

[tinymum]

I get where you are coming from but it might take a while to sink in....mess about=no breakfast. Either way you get out after half an hour! LOL

[sparklesandwine]

I've tried that tinymum but it doesn't really have an effect on them which makes me even more frustrated at the attitude they have, kids eh?

[lou33]

mine have 15 mins!

[titchy]

Do they watch TV in the morning? can you reward them with tv if they eat their breakfast quickly, have got dressed etc etc

[alison222]

Mine take ages too.

I take it away after about half an hour

[alison222]

Wow its the same in this house and form other mums I was talking to this morning a lot of houses.

Mine are younger though but I do know they can eat much quicker but can't be bothered

[tinymum]

Tell them they have half an hour, show them on the clock and when half an hours up take the food away.

Sorry its not very imaginative, I'll be interested to see what other people would do actually!