Sweets

[nic323]

Dear readers

My partner thinks that it is OK for our 3 year old girl to have chocolates or a small bag of sweets every night after her meal.

I was brought up to expect at her age to get a treat once a week on Saturdays.My partner also is happy for her to have sweets and crisps every day in her lunch box. I am at my wits end because I do not think it is good. When I comment on this it causes a great deal of tension, Could anyone help with some advice?

I also have problems with my partner getting in an argument with me because I do not want my daughter watching Eastenders. As an innocent 3 year old I think it is not a particulary good influence on her.

My partner is a social worker (would you believe it) but thinks that it is fine with what is happening.

I cannot get through to her that our daughter needs careful consideration in these matters.

A third party opinion would help.

Please

Nic

My 2 and half year old probably has something sweet most days, but it's usually something like a cup of chocolate milk. I don't think anyone NEEDS sweets or chocolates every day and probably not crisps for every lunch.

Being American I don't know what Eastenders is (I mean I've heard of it of course but never seen it) so I'm not sure what kind of show it is, but I'm pretty picky about what my DS watches.

Sweets after her evening meal if there aren't any strings attached ("Finish your dinner any you can have some pudding/sweets is a big no-no in my book) is not ideal but OK. Sweets in a lunchbox is a very bad idea (and forbidden in schools so an even worse idea to get her used to something you'll have to stop soon). A few crisps in a plastic box rather than a whole packet in a lunchbox would be OK with me too.

Eastenders, however would be the compelete dealbreaker for me. ABSOLUTELY inappropriate for children. I won't let my nearly 9 year old watch it, never mind a 3 year old.

I think my 3 year old probably ends up having something sweet most days, but it might be a bit of chocolate one day, a muffin another day, ice cream for pudding another day. I would try to avoid creating the expectation that there will be sweets after every meal, and definitely avoid putting them in lunchboxes. I do try not to give my children 'sweets' (e.g. lollipops, jelly tots etc) because they really are just sugar and colouring. At least something like a flapjack might be sugary but they also get some soluble fibre and slow release carbohydrate.

Could you compromise by suggesting that you or your partner does some baking once a week with your daughter and then things can be eaten for puddings but at least you know what's in them?

I'm not that picky about TV watching and my children see a lot of films, but I wouldn't let a 3 year old watch Eastenders. To be honest, I think that's a bit late for a 3 year old to be up and watching TV, period.

Like others have said most kids have something sweet everyday, but in different forms, not just 'sweets'.

I agree with you though, I would not get into the rountine of having sweets every night after dinner. It's just not a great rountine to start.

With regards to EE, I don't even wanna watch that crap - it's horrible. No way would I want me kids watching that shouty rubbish. Let her watch corrie instead