My two boys wake every night and will sneak food. It wouldn't be so bad if they were eating healthy stuff, but they will eat candy, cookies, pop (usually don't buy it anymore) and yogurt. We have told them that when they sneak food, they don't get a desert after dinner. They are sad then, but we always remind them that this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't ate the sweets in the middle of the night. The other part of it is they won't eat it at the kitchen table, they always bring it downstairs where we have brand new carpeting. We wouldn't care so much if they would just eat some fruit or vegetables, and then eat it at the kitchen table but we can't get that thru to them. We have taken away deserts, Saturday movie night, favorite toys just to name a few. We don't put it where they can easily find it, but the five year old will climb high and low until he finds what they are looking for. This has been going on for over a year now.
Any ideas on how to stop this all together or else get them to quit eating the sweets and only fruit or veggies? Anyone else have kids like this? What do you do?
Not buying them is not an option, my husband is from Germany, so we have European chocolate and cookies in the house at all times.
One suggestion might be to put the food in a locked cabinet. Good luck! K.
we give our girls 2 and 5 a snack before bed every night...the older one says she is hungry if we dont...it is nothing big and we try to keep it healthy. are your boys getting enough to eat for dinner?? throughout the day are you strict about only eating at the table?? be consistent about eating at the table, you too.
if all else is failing, is there any way to put a lock on the fridge or pantry??
I think this sounds like a control issue. They are in control of what, where and when they eat. I would try to reward them for good behavior rather than punish for bad behavior. There is no connection between Sat night movies and food or toys and food. they will not "get it". I would try something like: If they do not take food in the middle of the night for 5 night (you decide how many nights WITH them) then you can all have a picnic ON A BLANKET in front of the TV one night for dinner (or what ever meal you ALL decide on). You could also let them decide what will be for dinner 1 night a week. This reinforces the good behavior and rewards them with something related. What the reward is or how hard they have to work to get it is up to the whole family. They will feel important because they were part of a solution and it will give you all something positive to focus on.
What you focus on you get more of !! Good or bad is your choice.
Cheri,
Do they get access to the treats at appropriate times of the day? Maybe you need to make it special to have a treat after lunch (or whenever works in your day), and let them know that if they continue this behavior, there will be no treats, ever. And, this might require removing them from the house until the behavior stops. That might be hard for your husband, but it is a choice you might have to make as parents.
Good luck!
jess
I would buy only the things you want your kids to eat. It's either that or put locks on the fridge and cupboard doors.
Who wants argue at dinner time every night? I know we just want to sit down and eat after a long day. It's tough to not give in. I would imagine they are eating on the carpet because there is a TV in that room? We just removed the TV and put it in storage. It was like a huge burden being lifted.
If you can't remove all the treats, then lock them up. Buy a firesafe or something like that if you can't lock the pantry. You might also try problem solving with your boys on this...."Guys, we have a problem. You want to eat cookies at night in front of the TV. I want you to eat healthy food at the table. What do you think we can do to solve this?" Listen to (even write down) all of their ideas without judgement, even throw in some of your own, then go over the list together and see if you can find a solution that works for all of you. (This is coming pretty much straight out of "How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk" by the way). You might be surprised at what they come up with and at the very least, you'll be more likely to get their buy in on a solution.
Aren't boys fun?? I am sorry to say that I agree with some of the other moms. Take all the junk food out of the house. I didn't have really any when my children were younger and I started to relax a bit, but now my 3 year old only wants cookies and stuff that isn't the best for him. I just stop bringing it in the house. They whine, but I explain that we were having it too much and maybe if we can eat healthy and slowly bring some back and be able to have it appropriate times.
As for the eating at the table, I would just tell them, that when we eat, it's at the table. If they try to take it somewhere else, just tell them no. If they say they won't eat, tell them fine. They will eat where they are suppose to when they are hungry. Kids tend to push their boundaries as far as they can, and they are starting to figure out that they can find a way to get what they want. You can show them otherwise.
Gook luck mom and hang in there!!
J.
