View Full Version : Can/Does your child help themselves?
Ange&Seth
10-05-2008, 15:05
I'm wondering if anyone has their cupboards/fridges set up so that the kids can get their own food? I mean like drinks or pieces of cheese or biscuits?
I try to make sure there is a small bottle of water or juice or milk in the fridge on the lower shelf so that DS can grab it if he wants a drink and I'm thinking about doing the same thing with things like yoghurt and cheese and maybe sultanas and biscuits in the cupboard.
DS isn't allowed to POUR his own drinks but if there is one in his cup on the lower shelf then he knows he can just grab it.
So yeah, just wondering if anyone else does the same?
yes mine do i dont know if it is good or bad sometimes though :laughing: like at dinner time they can access the bicsuit barrell:rolleyes: and other fun stuff but it is good in other ways as if i am busy i can say go and get suchn such out of the fridge but i do make sure they ask first so i know what they are getting out and up to etc.
samsgirls
10-05-2008, 15:32
My DD1 helps herself to apples in the crisper and bananas, and when her bottle isn't accessible, I have actually caught her drinking out of the cold water jug:laughing: Her father is teaching her great manners! Our fridge has the freezer on the bottom, so she can't help herself to much more. which is a good thing i think.
Chunkydunks
10-05-2008, 15:34
:iagree: DS is basically the same. The things I don't mind him having all the time or know he'll only ask for occasionally are within his reach. Drinks, yoghurt, tanies (saltanas) and that sort of stuff. Anything I know he'll stuff his face with (like tiny teddies) go up.
Frangimimi
10-05-2008, 15:38
When mine were smaller, i would do that, but even now i have drinks of water always ready for them to grab, and fruit on hand, i do tend to keep the treats and sweets a little higher, so they have to ask for it(im such a mean mummy:laughing:)
Mathermy
10-05-2008, 15:49
yes:yes:
It kind of annoyed me at first because I liked to do it IYKWIM? it was easier and less messy when snacks mealtimes were more controlled.At first she was pinching fruit from the bench and i kept finding apples in the weirdest places with big bites out of them:laughing:
However I got used to it and I honestly think it encourages independence & allows kids to learn for themselves by doing things rather than being told. Now DD3 (almost 4) can make a vegemite sandwhich and can pour a drink without spilling. It took her a little while to learn (many tries and it was hard to watch and not jump in to take over) but in time she got the hang of it and now I am really proud-it's amazing what children can learn when allowed the opportunity:)
Ange&Seth
10-05-2008, 16:21
I honestly think it encourages independence & allows kids to learn for themselves by doing things rather than being told. Now DD3 (almost 4) can make a vegemite sandwhich and can pour a drink without spilling. It took her a little while to learn (many tries and it was hard to watch and not jump in to take over) but in time she got the hang of it and now I am really proud-it's amazing what children can learn when allowed the opportunity:)
Yep this is why I've got it set up the way I have :D All the treats go up high (like chocolate but we don't have stuff like that in the house as a regular thing anyway) but I have found him in the fridge with a dining chair pulled up to it so he could reach the treats :shame: hard not to laugh though!
Mathermy
10-05-2008, 16:30
Yep this is why I've got it set up the way I have :D All the treats go up high (like chocolate but we don't have stuff like that in the house as a regular thing anyway) but I have found him in the fridge with a dining chair pulled up to it so he could reach the treats :shame: hard not to laugh though!
one of the funniest memories that I have of DD that will continue to amuse me for the rest of my life
we had put chocie or something on top of the fridge......I come out to find her standing on top of one of her tiny pink chairs-waving the broom in the air trying to knock the chockie off the top of the fridge:laughing:Try not to laugh at that!:D
Ange&Seth
10-05-2008, 17:46
one of the funniest memories that I have of DD that will continue to amuse me for the rest of my life
we had put chocie or something on top of the fridge......I come out to find her standing on top of one of her tiny pink chairs-waving the broom in the air trying to knock the chockie off the top of the fridge:laughing:Try not to laugh at that!:D
Oh how cute!!! How old was she??
Mathermy
10-05-2008, 20:45
2 1/2? :laughing:
melbryan
10-05-2008, 20:52
Mine are eating only certain foods ( no additive diet) and if they ask I direct them to the cupboard. In the fridge they both have a drink bottle they can get to (side of the fridge), the cupboard has little bags of tiny teddies or crackers in them and there is always a fruitbowl on the bench. In between snacks are this.
Our kids ask before getting anything to eat or drink. The only things they're allowed unlimited access to is apples from the crisper-drawer and their water bottles from the fridge door.
Once they ask, they're allowed to go and get whatever they like from the fridge or pantry - there's a range of labelled containers with rice crackers, cruskits, sultanas, dried fruit etc that they can reach. Fruit is all in the fridge for them to help themselves. The biscuit jar stays on the counter, they can reach that - but they know they need to specifically ask if they want a biscuit, unlike the other healthier snacks. The lollies/treats etc are up high in the cupboard to avoid temptation.
one of the funniest memories that I have of DD that will continue to amuse me for the rest of my life
we had put chocie or something on top of the fridge......I come out to find her standing on top of one of her tiny pink chairs-waving the broom in the air trying to knock the chockie off the top of the fridge:laughing:Try not to laugh at that!:D
OMG I can't stop laughing at that!!! How hilarious!!! :laughing:
We have a 'kids box' in the pantry and fruit on the bench. They know to ask before helping themselves but they do get to choose what they take once they have asked. We also have a water chiller on the benchtop so they can get their own water when ever they need. I got tired of the fridge door not being shut properly or bottles being left out so now they always can get cool water.
I'm also thinking of doing this for Cobes. Although the little beggar has learnt to pull his chair to the pantry, climb up, open the door and pull down the muesli bars *shakes fist* I've been thinking of getting one of those compartmented containers and that way everything's open for him...
Oh goodness no - he would never stop and there would be endless mess. Of course, this isn't a problem for a lot of parents, just neat freaks like myself.
He can ask for things if he wants it and he can choose what he wants, as there's rarely anything in the house that isn't healthy (that he knows of).
His latest thing is asking for yoghurt quote: "in a bowl". I'm very glad he specifies where I put the yoghurt or I'd be lost :laughing:
missie_mack
10-05-2008, 21:20
DS has just got to the stage he will point to the fridge and say rink or mik (drink or milk) Sometimes he says cheese and sometimes he says some uncoherant word. We open the fridge for him as he isnt big enough but we let him get what he wants basically. We dont really keep food in the house we cant all eat. In the morning we pass him the butter which he puts on the bench and the vegemite for when he wants toast....
Im pretty happy for him to help himself to the fridge as it is far better than us not knowing he's hungry and not eating. I had cousins who had to ask for everything including a drink of water, I always thought it was pretty OTT and controlling :confused:
melbryan
10-05-2008, 21:26
I mainly make my kids ask because of the mess they can make even water. They know they always have to stay seated without walking around, but their pretty good at this.
If they get up and I am not up yet they have to wait 5 mins or 10. I ain't running no open kitchen here, just works better for our home. When I know they are a bit older then I don't mind but until then .......
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