Calling a child greedy

[Miratea]

Isn’t it rude to call a child greedy if they want seconds of dinner even if they are visibly a bit chubby but not fat or unhealthy.

Healthy children outside of toddlerhood (and muscles from sport) are naturally slim and slender. The judgement of "visibly a bit chubby" probably means they are in fact overweight.

I suppose it could be rude. I've referred to and heard other people refer to children as greedy and never thought anything of it, it's usually in a lighthearted way unless they are being greedy as in taking food that isn't theirs or more than their fair share.

Yes I think it would be rude in that I can't see how it could be said with love. It sounds like an expression of disgust.

However, if there is a tendancy by the child to over indulge and/or be inconsiderate in taking more than would be available for others - it is an important part of socialisation so they have basic manners. This is for the comfort of the child themselves as well as others

If it’s wanting to fill up on extra crisps/snacks etc it’s very different to wanting a bit more of a proper dinner or if they’d been given a small portion. Kids can still be greedy same as adults can, teaching healthy attitudes to food in general is a better way to address this.

Yes, very rude, as it shames the child. An overweight child will never be helped by being called greedy.

That isn't the point, though. The point is that it is inappropriate to call a child 'greedy'. To do so is to potentially set them up for a lifetime of food issues.

The child's weight is irrelevant. It isn't right to call any child greedy. If another portion is judged to be unnecessary you just say "No, some more of that wouldn't be good for you. If you're still hungry you can have (whatever healthy filler you see fit)"

Was the child called greedy to their face, OP? In what tone? Or was someone else referring to them as greedy?

I think if you only provide children with real food, not processed stuff, then you would find they are very good at regulating their food intake. No, it's not helpful to call a child greedy, just don't give them access to crap.

It’s a mean term, intended to shame rather than teach. so shouldn’t be used, especially in front of others.

My 3 year old is “greedy” in that he is obsessed with sugary snacks and wouldn’t stop taking them until he was sick if we let him. He’s slim and a normal weight (bit on the small side if anything). We are teaching him that you can only take 2 of anything, no more, because sugar rots your teeth and also because you need to make sure you leave plenty for others. He is slowly getting the message, no shaming involved.

It depends how it is said. I don't think it's a bad thing to clearly label behaviours (not the child) as a statement of fact. DCs need unambiguous and constructive guidance to be healthy/kind/functioning members of society. Greed, in any area of life, is not a good trait and DCs should be clear on that.
If the meal was an appropriate portion for the DC's age and activity level, then having more is indeed greedy. Was it said as an "absolutely not, you greedy little pig" or a "no, you've had a fair portion already and to take more would be greedy" kind of way?

I don't think it's a good word to use. Shaming isn't the best approach for guiding a child to make sensible choices around food. Like it or not, weight and food is a topic riven with value judgements. It needs to be handled with care.

Children don't generally shop, cook for and serve themselves.

Excepting things like endocrine or medication issues, if children are overweight, it's usually because adults have made poor decisions around lifestyle for them. Addressing these with name calling isn't the answer.

Was it said as an "absolutely not, you greedy little pig" or a "no, you've had a fair portion already and to take more would be greedy" kind of way?

This - I don't think it's wrong to say someone is being greedy, whatever their age, if they are being greedy - and the term doesn't only apply to food, it can apply to other selfish grabbing of things you don't need - but the word should be used factually rather than framed as a personal insult, as with any pointing out of unpleasant behaviour.

Yes, I do think it's rude. I've never heard anyone say it to an adult, so it shouldn't be said to a child.

Greedy is a very negative word and creates the wrong idea of how to behave around food.
But children should not be chubby. Chubby is basically heading towards overweight territory. We have lost sight of what a healthy child or adult looks like.

Yes. We shouldn't be insulting children. What would that person hope to achieve by calling them names?

It’s the parents fault their child is fat visibly chubby so they definitely shouldn’t be using unpleasant terminology like greedy.

A child who is already overweight is not being fed correctly (assuming everything else is ok) or has problems regulating.
Shaming them by calling them greedy is just flat out unkind

Children should be naturally slim and carry no 'chub'.
It's the parent's fault that the kids are carrying extra weight, second helpings for a slim child isn't 'greedy' as they are burning off the calories fast by being active.

I honestly think I live in a parallel universe sometimes. Does no one have a little laugh and a joke with their child and call them a little greedy guts 🤦‍♀️

My aunt used to guard the table at nans house every weekend when we went for a buffet tea. Sitting by the side, she'd monitor and judge what people chose, commenting constantly. She'd always make snide greedy and fatty comments about me and my sister, although we were actually very healthy eaters, healthy weights and very fit from sports. Ironically, although she was also fit at the time, she is now very overweight with a terrible diet. I had an eating disorder in my teens and her comments had a lot to do with it. We are NC completely now.

We were really thirsty as kids...Dad used to call us ''Bladderguts''. {Someone who drinks a lot of water}

“You are being greedy” is factual, not shaming.

It’s not a positive word, but not everything said to children has to be brimming with positivity.

I think it rather depends on context..
Personally I think it's never a neutral statement but I agree that it's ok to rebuke for inappropriate behaviour. I reckon there are better ways of saying it though.

I don't think it's a good thing to say, no.
I remember my cousin's wife calling me greedy at 13, when I had just lost my dad and was comfort eating at home. She reacted when I reached for a seconds slice of bread while waiting for a meal in a restaurant.
It wasn't her fault as she didn't mean it hurtfully, but it stuck with me and soon afterwards I began suffering from ED, which I've not fully recovered from 30 years later.