6 year old raiding chocolate

[FedupofTurkey]

Every weekend the same thing - 6 yr dss raids the chocolate cupboard. He knows he's not supposed to as i say it every week but it makes no difference. The consequence is he doesn't get chocolate for the rest of the day but again it makes no difference. What can I do, the chocolate is in a cupboard as high as possible.

There is a lock on our treats cupboard. Only DH & I know the code. I don't need that lock at all for 2 of the 4 children. Eldest DC used to know the code too, but he's now a teen... they're not known for self-rationing habits.

It's interesting that people cannot resist the temptation of binging on something and choose the only route to resist is to avoid the temptation entirely! I'd take that to mean it's even more important to learn to avoid succumbing to temptation, the stanford marshmallow test may not be totally sound, but being able to delay gratification seems like a good skill to have.

We have a chocolate cupboard, all of our family are very able to resist, including the toddler, who whilst wanting chocolate often, often only eats part of it before putting it in the fridge for later, which means she has access.

Holiday criminal - where did you get a lock with a code?

"He wouldn't be allowed to help himself out of other people's lunch boxes or raid the sweet section of the school canteen, so why is this different?"

Er- because it's his house???

Just remove the chocolate and replace it with some healthier snacks- perhaps little bags of raisins or apricots, rice cakes etc. Then take him to the shop to choose one treat later?

A chocolate cupboard!!!! That made me laugh.

@Fedup, this sort of lock which loops thru something else nearby (hook in the wall or whatever works). The wire is adjustable length so we can make sure the door is impossible to open. You set the combo to what you can remember, and is useful for other stuff when no longer needed on the cupboard.

You could get a bolt-hasp system and use a simple combination padlock like the tiny sort you get for luggage. (plus every American has these, I should buy some when I'm over there).

Do you really want to live in a house with locks on the cupboards? I wouldn't.

I don't have locks on the cupboards. Food is for everyone in the home- my children are free to snack when they wish.

Just one lock, singular :).
No I don't have to. Lots of alternatives. But this is the one that I like best.
We have passwords to the computers that DC don't know, too.

I have struggled with this too. My 7 year old loved raiding the cupboards early in the morning and it seemed that no matter where I put things, she would find them. Now I allow a certain amount of stuff within reach and don't make an issue of it. Gradually she's becoming less bothered. I really feel that now she knows that it isn't forbidden fruit, it's not as big a deal to her.

I'm taking this approach since reading a woman called Ellyn Satter (anyone familiar - she has a website with lots of good info. it's quite American but very good advice) She has this whole philosopy about feeding which is supposed to encourage kids to eat but not overeat. You decide when and what the kids eat but you don't restrict amounts and always include sweet stuff as part of your routine. She reckons once the kids know that they have regular access to sweets, they will calm down about the need to devour them. I think it makes a lot of sense. They really do need to learn self control early in life so that they can have a healthy attitude to food. Everything in moderation etc.

I don't know, EVE - I had free access to all the cakes and biscuits in our house (70s/80s child - it was Mr Kipling-tastic) - and I ate them and ate them and ate them. Having free access didn't teach me self-control! I also bought loads of sweets, once I had pocket money, and have a lot of fillings. Benign neglect on that front didn't work for me, or my sister.

Fair point RiverTam. I suppose I was conscious that my mum was very strict about it with my older sister and the minute my mum turned her back, my sister was stealing and scoffing food. She still has a bit of a famine mentality about food in general and has been morbidly obese all of her life. (she's almost 50 now) Mum was more relaxed with my younger sister and me and we have both maintained a (reasonably!) healthy weight. It really struck a chord with me then when I read Ellen Satter saying that if you try to make a kid eat more, they eat less. If you try to get them less, they eat more. I'd say a lot of us have experienced that at meal times with our kids. But of course, both your story and mine are just anecdotes I suppose. I'm just always afraid of giving the kids a f*** up attitude to food in the long run. I always thing that's more damaging that a short term gain of heading them off at the chocolate cupboard on a single occasion.

Don't keep it there, then.

I'm with rivertam, I was an overweight teen normalish weight adult though.

My attitude is there is no need to restrict healthy, nutritious food but sweets, crisps etc there is.

A chocolate cupboard, we don't have one of those

My parents in law have a chocolate cupboard. My OH now has a bmi over 30 and constantly snacks. His nephew was constantly offered/given chocolate and lived with them he became very overweight(obese) from 4 to about 16 when he stopped eating with them so much got a job etc but also had a growth spurt now hes thin(for the moment).
If most people could resist there wouldnt be an obesity crisis.
I have healthy bmi but always loved chocolate and now have insulin resistance. We never had lots of sweets in the house but a lot at xmas etc. it seems thin people diet isnt necessarily healthier. I think i tend to guzzle everything down quickly
Mine is only 2 but at the moment i dont think i will give snacks of chocolate. (She will get too much elsewhere anyway)

This is an interesting debate!
I have treats on a low shelf in an unlocked cupboard and none of the children have ever been restricted in their access, but somehow they all ask - even our big kids will ask if me or DP are about, and none of them binge or eat loads. (They are all slim too).
I didn't have anything like the free access to food like this as a child, but I recall being quite food obsessed and would easily over eat given the opportunity!

I think if self control is hard, then it's better not to have too much in the house that triggers unhealthy eating.

The 'cupboard' contains other things as well as choc - it has cakes, biscuits, drinks in plus stuff for school lunchboxes. The reason i do this is otherwise we would run out of everything. Food isn't limited as such, i top up the kitchen cupboards with food for snacks. There is fruit available for all for whenever they want. I felt it necessary to move the treat stuff/school stuff out of the kitchen as the 6 year old would hrlp himself to everything. However, he has now located the other cupboard and helps himself. There is no need for anyone to do this as snacks are provided- healthy and others, as i felt if they didn't have any they would want more iyswim. I don't think its fair to penalise my other kids who don't help themselves, ask etc.

Jade - that isn't the issue, i have 2 other dss and a ds and all 3 know there are plenty of snacks available during the day and don't help themselves out of the other cupboard.

Jade - that isn't the issue, i have 2 other dss and a ds and all 3 know there are plenty of snacks available during the day and don't help themselves out of the other cupboard.

Jade - that isn't the issue, i have 2 other dss and a ds and all 3 know there are plenty of snacks available during the day and don't help themselves out of the other cupboard.