toddlerroadmap.com

THE TODDLER ROADMAP SERIES 2: Episode 21 – Is it Normal for Toddlers to become Fussy Eaters?

"Everything you need to raise a happy, confident, resilient toddler 
undamaged by living through a pandemic!"

Show notes:

In this episode we look at taking the fuss out of fussy eating.
Teaching your toddler right from wrong: explaining the ages and stages they go through
We talk about the massive “million-word gap” for children who aren’t read to at home!

On the Parentverse I chat to Tina Stubbs about her books to make healthy habits simple and easy.

Plus, in The Sue Atkins Book Club this week: Author Dr Elizabeth Roberts a nutritionist and author of ‘Help! My Toddler Is Not Eating: A 30-Day Plan to Get Your Picky Eater to Enjoy New Food’

In this episode:

  • Teaching Toddlers Right from Wrong.
  • ​How to PREVENT the “Million-Word Gap.” Read a Book A Day to Your Toddler!
  • ​Some practical tips to help you keep your sanity and get your child's diet back on track.
On the Parentverse: Sue Atkins in Conversation with Tina Stubbs Author of ‘Life’s Little Bugs’ picture books that motivate young readers to learn good healthy habits in a positive, fun way.

Fussy Eaters

If you suddenly have a fussy eater on your hands - you're not alone!
Lots of parents go through the same thing with their children as faddy eating is often a phase that young children go through to explore their independence, test you out and to get some of your attention (no matter how bad it is!)

Children like things to be familiar, as it helps them relax and feel safe, so whether it's their bedtime routine or their cheese sandwich, many children won't try new foods until they've been exposed to them several times. So just bear that in mind when you are offering some new foods to your toddler as it helps you relax!

Toddlers pick up on your vibes all the time so if you suddenly become anxious around food time and start to tense up around the table – guess what… your child does too and frustrating though it is, staying calm, centred, positive and relaxed is often all it takes to go with the flow of this phase and survive it!

Many parents I coach worry that their children are not getting the nutrients they need to thrive and stay healthy, and they react by putting a lot of pressure on their toddler to eat more, eat less, or eat the right kinds of food, but this approach often makes the problem worse by creating power struggles between you and your little one.

Make up your mind to change this pattern straight away and to start to look at the bigger picture to what you want to teach your toddler about food long term, and for a healthy life.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I want my child to feel around food when they are a teenager?
  • How can I empower my toddler and celebrate their striving for independence around food?
  • ​How can I relax and teach them to have a lifetime of good health and a healthy relationship with food by only offering two healthy choices from now on, and relaxing if they don’t eat much at each meal?
  • ​How can I eliminate coaxing, bribing, and disguising food as a way to “trick” my little one into healthy habits as this only reinforces an unhealthy relationship with food?
  • ​How can I take the battle out of mealtimes and make food more fun?
Start to notice how much food your child normally needs to remain healthy as this is the key to ending the battles around mealtime. Think of their food intake over a week rather than a day - as it is probably better than you think.

Once you understand the portion sizes your child needs to thrive, you can offer nourishing snacks and feel relaxed knowing that your toddler is meeting his or her nutritional requirements that’s right for them. It will stop you comparing and worrying what other kids are doing, which frees you up to trust your child’s natural rhythm and food patterns!

The good news is that once you've embraced this mindset and this simple strategy, your child will love their newfound sense of responsibility, which will take the stress out of mealtimes and end the food fight forever, well it will certainly reduce the battles!
Here are some practical tips to help you keep your sanity and get your child's diet back on track.
  • Provide a variety of healthy food for your child to eat at each meal.  
  • ​Keep in mind that it takes multiple exposures to a new food for a child to see it as familiar and OK to try. In fact, it takes 11 times for your child to have a food sometimes before they will have a go……
So, be patient. When you do offer a new food, simply place it on the dinner table with everything else, and don't make a big fuss about it. Eventually, after your little one has seen the family eating the food a few times, they will feel more open to trying it themselves. 
  • Relax at mealtimes. 
Notice your language around mealtime - if you say, “Its dinnertime. What do you want to eat?” your child will probably choose something familiar to them and you are handing them all the power so try saying, 

“Here's dinner” and just smile and relax.
  • When introducing new foods, offer just one or two, and present them in small quantities. 
  • ​Just give your toddler a taste before putting a whole serving on their plate so they don’t feel overwhelmed - and it won't seem like a waste of food to you. 
  • ​Whenever possible, let your child be involved in some food decisions. 
  • ​Limited choices are great for fussy eaters, as this gives them a sense of control over their diet and they'll be far more likely to eat something that they’ve chosen for themselves. (This works best if you let your child choose from a small selection of healthy foods you've already picked out!)  
So have fun taking your toddler shopping or making their lunch.

As your child's world expands and they begin to go to a playgroup or nursery, their taste in foods often broadens as well. They see other children eating new and exciting different things and this is often enough to inspire them to eat new things, too.
  • Remember some children's palates are more sensitive than others. 
They simply won't like the texture, colour, or taste of some foods. This is why a child will often claim to dislike a food they have never even tried.

Likewise, some children may have an aversion to a food because it reminds them of a time when they were sick or has some other negative association.

If your child complains that a particular food will make him ill, stop offering that food for a while. You can always try again when your child is a little older.
  • Get the fork to talk and make food time fun. Get the fork to talk and say "Hello, can I help your lunch go in your tummy please?" Or play airplanes with it zooming in the food with all the full-on noises of a plane landing at Gatwick! 
  • ​Have tea or a meal with another child who is a good eater and don't criticise your child but be amazed and delighted by the other child "Wow X you are such a good eater."
  • ​Sing some fun songs as you sit at the table or play their favourite music as it relaxes you all and makes mealtime enjoyable.
  • ​Get teddy to join in – one for teddy – one for you. 
  • ​If mealtimes are becoming a misery or a battle ground, then change where you eat. Have tea in a tent, or at a small table on tiny chairs with all their toys coming along too or have a car picnic – get creative and change the atmosphere.
  • ​Add new things S-L-O-W-L-Y. Take a basic food that they love like bread and add new things to it bit by bit. Try bread with some cheese, then bread with scrambled eggs or bread with a boiled egg and soldiers, or bread with ham or jam – have fun experimenting – it takes the pressure off.
Watch my videos, listen to my MP3s and read my modules in my FULL TODDLER ROADMAP MODULE 21 around fussy eating
Put in the discount code PEANUT 25 to get a huge 25% discount on the whole 41 videos. 41 MP3s and 28 Modules of my eCourse 

Kevin and I chat about this extraordinary piece of research. 

Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to, a new study found.

This “million word gap” could be one key in explaining differences in vocabulary and reading development, said Jessica Logan, lead author of the study and assistant professor of educational studies at The Ohio State University.

Even kids who are read only one book a day will hear about 290,000 more words by age 5 than those who don’t regularly read books with a parent or caregiver.

Kids who hear more vocabulary words are going to be better prepared to see those words in print when they enter school.

The vocabulary word gap in this study is different from the conversational word gap and may have different implications for children.
This isn’t about everyday communication. The words kids hear in books are going to be much more complex, difficult words than they hear just talking to their parents and others in the home.
For instance, a children’s book may be about penguins in Antarctica – introducing words and concepts that are unlikely to come up in everyday conversation.
The words kids hear from books may have special importance in learning to read.
The results of this study highlight the HUGE importance of reading to children.

So, snuggle down with a book at bedtime or during the day and enjoy a story - check out my Book Club too to inspire you.
I have filmed and written tips for Disney’s ‘The Gift of Play’ website. Get inspired and spark the magic of imaginative play with my tips & videos in collaboration with Disney, Pixar, Star Wars™ and Marvel.

Download & Discover ‘The Gift of Play!’ Guide

Bursting with inspirational play ideas, arts, crafts, games, activities and puzzles!

#TipsandScripts

When you're tempted to say something negative – it’s much better to reframe it into something positive so kids really hear you and can act on what you want them to do.
They’ll feel better – you’ll feel better – win – win!
‘Help! My Toddler Is Not Eating: A 30-Day Plan To Get Your Picky Eater To Enjoy New Food’ by Dr Elizabeth Roberts

JOIN MY PEANUT COMMUNITY

Sue Atkins Toddler Roadmap Community
My parenting community on Peanut is a chance to connect with me one on one, ask questions, find support and make friends

I do LIVE PODS – like Instagram Lives – and you can have access to me 1-2-1 over on the Peanut app for FREE 😊

Question:

How do I teach my toddler right from wrong? When will she start to understand? Ciara McDonald from Tipperary in Ireland 

Answer:

Teaching Your Kids Right from Wrong – Ages and Stages.

I was invited on to BBC Radio Kent today it was a discussion about teaching children right from wrong.

Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist who did pioneering work in child development. He concluded that toddlers learn about right and wrong through experiencing the responses of adults to their actions.

Children know the difference between right and wrong before they reach the age of two, according to new research published recently. Scientists have found that babies aged between 19 and 21 months understand fairness and can apply it in different situations.

A child’s moral development begins at birth because early, caring experiences create trust, laying the foundation for positive relationships in the future.

The first 5 years of a child’s life builds the foundations for ethical & moral behaviour. As a child develops & matures, they begin to understand right and wrong. So, you and other caregivers are crucial & vital to this process.

Teaching children right from wrong is an ongoing process based on their developing maturity and understanding.

Here are some ideas about how you can help your child develop moral “intelligence” from birth.
Ages 0-1:
Babies learn right from wrong through experience. When a infant is hungry, wet, or lonely, it feels uncomfortable, scared and ill at ease. When adults offer care and nurturing, a baby feels relaxed & safe.

By responding quickly to a baby’s basic needs, including changing, feeding, holding, singing, reading, and speaking & interacting, parents and caregivers help babies bond and feel safe.

Early, secure attachment influences moral and other learning: By the end of the first year, most babies learn to imitate, initiate contact, and communicate feelings and preferences, and are beginning to develop some understanding of what is okay to do & and what isn’t.
Ages 1-3:
Toddlers begin to understand the idea of rules, and can start to respond appropriately if they are told not to do something. Despite being egocentric, they begin to realise that others have feelings and needs, but it can be difficult for toddlers to resist acting impulsively & to control their own behaviour without support.

For example, when an 18-month-old wants a toy, they as likely to snatch it from another child. At this stage, children don’t t yet have the ability to truly distinguish between right and wrong on their own. Instead, they rely on you to define morality for them, and to help them learn what is “right” or acceptable behaviour.

This is the time to ‘Talk & Teach’ your toddler through kind but firm, fair and consistent messages. By consistently offering guidance and correction, you are teaching your toddler about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, and that consequences follow their actions.
Here’s an exclusive DISCOUNT CODE of 25% OFF JOINING MY TODDLER ROADMAP eTraining

Everything you need to raise a happy, confident, resilient toddler

Parentverse 

Sue Atkins in conversation with Tina Stubbs from Life’s Little Bugs
Tina Stubbs is the Author and Illustrator behind 'Life's Little Bugs'. She set out with a goal to develop a series of picture books that motivate young readers to learn good healthy habits in a positive, fun way.

As a parent, Tina realised there wasn't anything engaging to help encourage and support parents, teachers and kids when building essential life skills such as brushing teeth, hand washing, making healthy choices, showing respect and kindness and building a growth mindset, to name a few.

Titles in the series include: Tummy Bug, Fitness Bug, Flu Bug, Litter Bug and many more including the book we wrote together ‘Ant I Viral & The Virus’ about the pandemic

Pause to Ponder This Week:

How can I make mealtime more sociable, fun and relaxed?

Time To Take Action

Sign up to my Toddler Roadmap
My Toddler Roadmap looks at all the aspects of raising your toddler so they are not damaged by a unique time in history - living through a pandemic - & each module will help you to nurture your child’s mental health and wellbeing and this podcast is linked to my Toddler Roadmap training.

I’m going to hold your hand, support and guide you through everything you need to know about raising happy, confident resilient kids – today’s toddlers but tomorrow’s adults!
I want you to relax & have total confidence that you’ve got a parenting expert who’s got your back - showing you the way to happy, confident kids and knowing the pandemic didn’t damage your kids long term!

In my TODDLER Roadmap Course and Community I will give you the step by step guide for handling toddler tantrums and why they happen, I give you the roadmap for potty training, why kids become fussy eaters and what to do about it. I show you how to build self confidence in your toddler and explain why they say ‘why?’ all the time, I give you my parenting hacks on how to handle sibling rivalry when another baby arrives, I tell you about the importance of play and how to handle when they say ‘NO!’

I tell you how to handle whining, crying, and biting. I show you my tips for getting kids into a good bedtime routine and why that’s important. I talk about why reading with kids is so important and why singing nursery rhymes with them helps their language development. I show you how to handle night terrors and I look at the bigger picture to your parenting – not just the socks and pants of life that we all get stuck in!

So, I’m really excited to share with you my Toddler Roadmap

Check out my YouTube Channel Playlist – videos released every Tuesday and Friday

Remember, if you want to review what we’ve talked about, check out the full Show Notes

There, you can find a full article on the topic, videos that summarise the different elements and links to any tools or resources we’ve pointed out. You can also drop us a comment there and get involved in the conversation.
You can find a full article on the topic, videos that summarise the different elements and links to any tools or resources we’ve pointed out. You can also drop us a comment there and get involved in the conversation. 
To get my full advice and videos join my Toddler Roadmap

Coming up Next Week 

Coming up in Episode 22 Growing Independence: Tips for Parents of Toddlers and Twos

The toddler years are some of the most joyful years for you and your child. Your children are growing by leaps and bounds—walking, talking, singing, jumping, helping, and gaining new life experiences every day.

I’ll be giving you lots of practical tips to develop independence in your toddler from carrying their own lunch boxes, putting their toys away, putting their shoes by the door, to helping with simple chores like putting clean laundry into drawers.

Join my Facebook Group Community

I have created a private and safe space for us all – a Facebook Group called ‘Don’t Stew ~ Ask Sue Atkins’ where you can ask me anything from niggles, worries, or problems or perhaps you’d just like some new ideas or you’d like to make some new friends.

Jump on and join in – it’s free from finger pointing or tut-tting – it takes a village and we’re all in this together!
It’s like a community clubhouse – to make sure we get together to chat, laugh and support each other on the journey – so grab a coffee and let’s get social 😊
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
© Copyright Sue Atkins 2022 sueatkinsparentingcoach.com
Join me online for lots of great content:
Powered By ClickFunnels.com