If your kids sit at the table and eat …

[Justwontdoit]

Tell me how you enforced that. I’ve gone horribly wrong with no1 but hoping to put it right for no2.

Eat with them. So, set meal times, you eat what they eat and make it sociable. Chat, make it a happy time every day.

I sat them with me pretty much from birth, and never had an issue with mealtimes.

I didn’t really enforce it but it’s the only place where there is food so they stay there. We always eat with them (if we are going out later we still sit down and eat an apple or whatever)

I just served meals at the table and sat or ate with them. What issue are you anticipating with DC2?

We all eat at the table together for every meal, so if they're not at the table then no food

What happens now? And how old is dc1

Don’t quite understand. There is only food at the table so they do sit and eat. Conversation optional.

Food just isn’t served anywhere else. And most of the time we eat with them too so we all just chat and model appropriate behaviour.

What’s happening at the moment with dc1?

Expectation.

Kids brought up expected to eat at the table, will eat at the table

what does DC2 do?

how old are they both?

YY to serving food at the table and eating it with them.

If table manners are horrible, there is no pudding.This means that table manners are passable for a 3yo!

We eat together. Never have TV in the background or use screens (including restaurants).

Depends how old they are. Mine are 3 under 10 and we've all been eating at the table for about 6 years now, before that when oldest was 4ish and younger he could sit still for short periods but had issues being sat for too long (he's fine now). We just always made sure where possible to all sit together, almost every evening.

Stick at it. Sit them down at every meal time even if they eat very little (give a selection of foods including something they like). Sit with them and engage. Be consistent and persistent.
As for eating out, that took a bit longer to master, but is possible without screens if that is your parenting choice, just hard work ( at first, improves with time).

My daughter is not quite 2 yet so it is east in the sense she can be contained in her high chair. But simply she isn’t given any option - any meal or snack involves sitting down and eating. I mostly sit down at the table with her while she eats except in the morning when she’s quite happy to just sit and eat her porridge while I make my coffee and unload the dishwasher etc.

It's just where we eat so was never controversial. How old
Is DC1?

We don't allow screens but we do allow toys and books for toddler. Older two are teens so capable of just chatting

Thanks. I was a bit worried I’d get replied like this, as mine just bolts off after a mouthful or two. So doesn’t eat anything close to enough if I rigorously enforce it.

My children definitely weren’t super well behaved when young but sitting at the table wasn’t really an issue. We always sat down together and still do now they are teenagers unless anyone is out.

We've always sat together for meals, and the table is where the food is. When DD1 was 2ish there was a stage where she wanted to get down and play and we did let her. But we made it clear that the food stayed at the table, and we were staying at the table, so while she was free to play in the living room (opens into the dining room), she couldn't eat in there and we'd still be sitting at the table talking, not playing.
She's 4 now and it's not an issue. DD2 is only 18 months but still sits at the table (in her high chair) with us and we all eat together and she'll move into a chair when she's big enough and we'll have the same rules.

Food is served at the table. No table, no food.
Always an adult also sits at the table, even if not eating themselves.

what went wrong with dc1?

How old?

Agree with PPs- we all sit at the table to eat, no screens either at home or restaurants (and that’s enforced for the parents too!), we all wait till everyone has finished or ask “please may I leave the table?”, and the DC transport their plates to the sink.

They are 7 & 9.

It's non-negotiable.

We've always sat at the table with ours, youngest used to try and get down to play but I would put him straight back at the table

“mine just bolts off after a mouthful or two”

They all go through this stage. I’ve had four and it hits at slightly different times but they all do it.

I lift the plate and that’s dinner over / bribe with a small cake / have been known to wrap dinner up and reserve the following night / sing songs (depends on the age of the child).

Sit with them if you can't eat with them serve all meals at table , keep it relaxed and they need to ask "please may I leave the table" just keep repeat repeat repeat. Have as many meals as possible together . Please do persevere, you put the ground work in now and you will be glad later. It's good parenting

It's just a case of starting to eat all.together at table. If children want to get down initially then let them but don't let them take food away & graze around the house.
Have dealt with this many times as a childminder, lots of toddlers are used to grazing all day at home & having food on floor etc as they're playing. It honestly doesn't take them long to understand that food is only eaten at the table, much easier though if you are sitting with them, chatting & even having a cuppa if not actually eating your meal at nursery hours. Don't make a fuss if they want to get down but do be firm about food only being eaten at table. Youll find they will come back & want to eat more also helps if you let them down but need to stay in same room as you, so no fun toys/tv until everyone is finished eating, makes it boring & sitting up with everyone else becomes more interesting. Children are quick learners & perfectly capable of getting used to the new routine quickly.