I've heard a lot that you shouldn't reward your kids for eating, so we try not to do it! It is hard though... we want so badly for them to eat, and sometimes one or both of them just won't. 
Over time though, the kids are becoming better eaters! At least, Charlie is... so we have hope that this will become less of an issue.
Do you ever reward or praise your kids for eating well?
honeydew / 7444 posts
No way. I think when they are babies you cannot help but clap when they are able to feed themselves, but i am not going to use a reward system in order for them to eat more veggies. I found this piece interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/fashion/modifying-a-childs-behavior-without-resorting-to-bribes-this-life.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@caffeinated: Great article!!
Sorry by reward I just meant like, give them dessert or a treat or something. The thing I have the hardest time with is not praising Charlie for eating well. I've cut way back but I can't stop completely!!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I never reward, but we tell Lo good job when she eats well
pear / 1723 posts
my kids are just starting solids, so I definitely praise and encourage them when they pick up things and get them to their mouth, or act excited and open big for a bite. stuff like that. for me and for now, it's more about encouraging them to try a variety of food than forcing a large quantity on them.
i don't think it's inherently wrong to praise a desired action, but i know that food can be tricky, so we'll have be cognizant about it as they get older. i think we'll probably praise them in relation to the health benefits of the food they ate - you ate a pile of carrots, that's so good for your eyes......you finished a piece of fish, that helps make your muscles strong.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
Never thought to..... She's usually a good eater so its not a big issue for us.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
Never thought not to!! WJ gets a dessert or treat if he finishes his meal. Which rarely happens these days I do bribe a lot though. "I don't want to" is a very common phrase these days...
honeydew / 7444 posts
@mrbee: I can understand wanting to praise Charlie for eating well, considering his pickiness! I would probably make it clear that she isn't getting dessert if she doesn't finish her meal. But, i find myself giving her fruit even after she refuses some of her "main" meal, only because i'm afraid that she didn't eat enough for dinner. I guess it's hard for me to comment since LO hasn't gone through the picky toddler stage yet!
pomegranate / 3503 posts
Ah, we do bribe but some of our bribes are also part of our routine. After dinner, we watch some videos before bathtime. so when he asks about watchig videos, we tell him that only after he eats. We mostly do a lot of praises though. It's been really hard to get him to eat certain things. What's working mostly is that we tell him what he's eating makes him strong. So, we make a muscle each time he takes a bite.
GOLD / pear / 1845 posts
I don't, but Mr SH praises her when she finishes a meal. He gets more concerned about her eating than I do. And if there's a treat (which isn't often) she has to finish before she gets it, but it's not like a reward. I think.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
It never occurred to me to do this. I give her verbal praise - you did such a good job eating today!
grapefruit / 4120 posts
Yep, we're probably screwing up but we do praise him a lot like, "wow! You ate very well today! So you get a Popsicle!" Or sometimes we "bribe" by telling him he can have dessert if he eases two more bites or whatever.
Everyone's saying no to the question but then saying they do praise or promise dessert. So I don't get it. Wouldn't that be a yes? In confused!
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
I praise her when she eats well ("Good eating!" or " Wow, you finished everything today!") but I don't make a fuss if she's not eating.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
We try to do positive praising like "Wow you ate all your healthy veggies, that will give you strong muscles".
@sloaneandpuffy: Yes a bit off
My SIL implemented a no dessert on week nights. It really helped with her kids expecting a treat if they did good. Now they get a treat if they eat well and its the weekend.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
@sloaneandpuffy: haha good point. I guess I read the question as more asking if a reward was provided. But you're right, I see now that Mr. Bee was asking about praise, too, so yes I do that.
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
She is too young to understand that type of praise. We try and make mealtime fun and engaging and offer lots of variety.
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