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Original poster

So do you lot all let your kids help themselves to whatever they like, whenever they like, from the kitchen then?

100 replies

Enid · 30/01/2007 11:07

Am I alone in expecting my children (7, 4 and negligible) to ask before getting a snack?

(other than fruit bowl which they take stuff from whenever)

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 30/01/2007 11:07

oh god no I am snack police

FluffyMummy123 · 30/01/2007 11:07

Message withdrawn

FluffyMummy123 · 30/01/2007 11:07

Message withdrawn

JackieNo · 30/01/2007 11:08

No - they always have to ask (even for fruit, though I wouldn't say no, unless it was right before a meal).

eidsvold · 30/01/2007 11:08

nope - they ask me for what they want - do not help themselves. They are 4 1/2 and 2.

JackieNo · 30/01/2007 11:09

Water DD can get on her own, so no need to ask for that. DS can't reach to do it on his own, so asks.

Original poster
Enid · 30/01/2007 11:09

oh no drinks they help themselves to

I wasnt talking about drinks

OP posts:
sandcastles · 30/01/2007 11:09

DD asks before she takes anything, unless it's water.

Thelittlesoldiersmummy · 30/01/2007 11:10

gosh my DS would explode if I let him help himself that or be sick as he would eat all the crap he could find - you have to train them to ask I have never put the thingys on the draws and cupboards to stop DS from opening them and his choc buttons are in a cupboard he can open but he know he will get in to trouble if he just takes !

charliecat · 30/01/2007 11:10

No, mine have to ask, if its before dinner...no wait, its its after dinner I tell them to go and find something/anything they like and if they cant find something ill find them something.
But they still have to ask, or they would be eating biscuits just as i was about to put dinner on the table.

Marina · 30/01/2007 11:11

They are supposed to ask and get into big trouble if they are caught not asking.
As with others, am less bothered when it is fruit they take without permission.
Usually they do ask.

WigWamBam · 30/01/2007 11:12

Dd can help herself to water but she has to ask for food or milk. She can always have fruit, but I still expect her to ask for it first.

mytwopenceworth · 30/01/2007 11:13

each to their own. my 2 are free to help themselves to drinks, fruit, yoghurt, carrot sticks etc - we keep NO sweets, crisps, biscuits or misc crap in the house, (to save ME not them lol) so i dont have any worries on that score.

TeeCee · 30/01/2007 11:14

DD1 has specail needs but she is banned from openign the fridge. In the past before I managed to drum it into her that she must never open the fridge I found her nubbling an entire block of cheddar cheese and I also found her 'swimming', in 12 smashed eggs on the kitchen floor. We were just about to go out and she was all dressed up and there she was doing breaststroke saying 'look mummy mermaid'.

Anyway - to answer your question, I would never allow my children to help themseves to anything that wasn't a piece of fruit. Fruit is always on open offer at school, summerschool and at home.

MorocconOil · 30/01/2007 11:15

They can help themselves to as much fruit as they want. Would let them get their own drinks but they need scissors to open the cartons and they spill everything so they usually need help. We don't usually have other snacks as it spoils their appetites for meals.

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 30/01/2007 11:15

no he has to ask, including drinks but that's down to the fact that he likes water out of the jug in the fridge so couldn't pour it himself.

Original poster
Enid · 30/01/2007 11:16

lol @ mermaid

OP posts:
moondog · 30/01/2007 11:16

lol at the mermaid swimming in eggs!
Mine have to ask but can have fruit whenever they want.

FluffyMummy123 · 30/01/2007 11:17

Message withdrawn

Lucycat · 30/01/2007 11:18

no, why who you know who does let their kids ransack the kitcxhen Enid?

Whoooosh · 30/01/2007 11:21

DD has to be marshalled or she would be the size of a house.
Constantly asking for cheese or bananas-I know there are worse things but I will never let her help herself without asking.
Even fruit if I am honest as I wouldn't put it past her to eat a whole bunch of bananas at the moment.

Original poster
Enid · 30/01/2007 11:26

See 8 year old boy stealing food thread

OP posts:
FluffyMummy123 · 30/01/2007 11:29

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Enid · 30/01/2007 11:30

no I was beginning to think I was living in a rather lovely 1950's bubble

OP posts:
jampot · 30/01/2007 11:30

my children have to ask if they want something other than fruit or carrots or water obviously.

If they want something from the treat box then if they dont catch it when thrown to them they dont get it