The surprising way to get your kids to (happily) eat healthier.
No one likes to be told what to do.
This is a fundamental fact of human psychology, and it’s true of almost everyone, including kids.
We have at our home age 2 and 92 - humans respond in pretty similar ways when they’re ordered around.
This is a fundamental fact of human psychology, and it’s true of almost everyone, including kids.
We have at our home age 2 and 92 - humans respond in pretty similar ways when they’re ordered around.
Rule #1: Practice the behavior you want to see.
Kids naturally trend toward doing what they see you doing. So model the behaviour you want them to emulate, such as: eating slowly, having meals at a table rather than in front of the TV , enjoying vegetables etc
Kids naturally trend toward doing what they see you doing. So model the behaviour you want them to emulate, such as: eating slowly, having meals at a table rather than in front of the TV , enjoying vegetables etc
What are you teaching your kids by example?
Because when your actions don’t match your words, kids notice.
Because when your actions don’t match your words, kids notice.
Rule #2: Do your part and trust them to do theirs.
What the parent does: Shops for food, prepares the food, provides regular meals at set times, makes eating times enjoyable
What the child does: Decides whether to eat, which of the available foods to eat, how much to eat
What the parent does: Shops for food, prepares the food, provides regular meals at set times, makes eating times enjoyable
What the child does: Decides whether to eat, which of the available foods to eat, how much to eat
This framework allows you to maintain control over what foods come into the house. If you don't want them to drink coke, then you don't bring coke to your home. If your kids drink coke elsewhere, say at a friend’s home, try to sort that into your “no biggie” mental box.
Rule #3: Remain neutral. Neutral involves asking genuine questions, with curiosity, and being okay with your child’s response.
Neutral is not: “I’m going to ask you a question that only has one right answer: My answer.”
Neutral is not: “I’m going to ask you a question that only has one right answer: My answer.”
It’s also not celebrating your kids’ choices with comments like “Yay! You ate your veggies! Good job!” Nor is it bemoaning their choices by saying things like, “You’re eating that cookie for a snack?”
The more you model the behaviours you want to see, hold up your end of the bargain, and remain neutral, the more likely your kids will actually do the thing you want them to do - no yelling required.
In one of the coming issues of Good Vibes I will carry complete toolkit how to make your kids eat the food they should eat more. We have a broccoli lover at home. This was when she was 14 months old.
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