Just thinking about sitting down to breakfast with my kids makes me want to stay in my bed forever. I have one child who eats everything in sight, while my older child doesn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive. Life as a mom doesn’t have very many dull moments. Especially because our precious children become difficult very quickly when they realize that “hey, now is probably a bad time to be difficult.”
One of those times is mealtime. Kids (and especially toddlers) can be very picky. You’ve spent all afternoon making a dish so beautiful that you don’t know whether to send it to Parent’s Magazine or Southern Living. All of that hard work only for your creation to be refused and pushed away by those tiny little hands.
Pediatrician and Author Dr. Orlena Kerek shares that the keys to feeding a toddler a healthy diet are patience and persistence. Moms should offer children healthy meals and snacks at scheduled times each day. An example of a schedule would be breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and then dinner. Offer your child healthy foods each time, but don’t force it or bribe them to eat. It’s hard for most parents to accept this- but if your child doesn’t eat, a little hunger isn’t going to kill them. The next chance to eat is only a little while away.
Dr. Kerek summarizes her tips to help children who won’t eat as follows:
- Patience
- Persistence
- Regular healthy eating times
- Don’t pressure or bribe them
- Offer variety
- Family meals (perhaps not all the time, but frequently)
- Trust them (their appetites can be erratic, sometimes they won’t touch lunch, other times they’ll eat three bowls.)
- For Toddlers- let them feed themselves (it’s fine to help if they ask for it but letting them feed themselves fosters independence and lets them feel in control Worry about the mess later!!)
Dr. Orlena Kerek is a pediatric doctor. She is the creator and producer of SnottyNoses, a family and parenting site. Dr. Kerek is passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle in children, especially healthy eating habits.
She has published a book Crunch! about how to help your children eat a healthy diet and her second book Feeding Toddlers: A Pediatricians Guide to Happy and Healthy Mealtimes was released at the end of August 2016.
About Brittany:
Brittany was born and raised in Alabama. She is a Wife and Mama of two sweet babies- her son John is two years old and her daughter Annie is ten months old. She is pursuing her degree in Home and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Development from BYU. She is looking forward to writing for Birmingham Mommy in preparation for graduation in the Fall of 2016.
When the Southern Women’s Show returns to the BJCC 
Children hear a lot of “no’s” from their parents. Childhood is a frustrating time because kids want things- and most of the time they don’t fully understand why they can’t have them. While “no’s” are necessary for keeping kids safe and helping them learn, its also important that children are praised just as often as they are told “no.” They are proud when they master a behavior that has been a struggle for them in the past; such as waiting patiently for their turn or being gentle instead of rough. Children thrive off of their parents admiring words.
It is safe to say that most Mom’s are creatures of habit. One of the only things keeping us from teetering over into insanity is our routine! And the most important part of any routine, is the part that keeps our kids occupied. Sports are a large part of many families schedules and the benefits are endless. Sports keep our kids healthy. They also help our kids make friends and give our family a reason to be together on Saturdays at the ball field or court.
Self-Motivation may be the most important life skill you can teach and cultivate in someone. It is crucial that we teach our children about self-motivation because it will help them reach their goals. Many children are extremely receptive to visual and tactile style learning- so creating a vision board is a great way to help kids see their goals. Speaking of seeing, lets talk about visualization. Visualization is a powerful mind exercise that uses the law of attraction to form your life. What you believe you’ll get out of life is what you’ll get back.
Make plans to head to the Birmingham Zoo for Boo at the Zoo presented by Wells Fargo! Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 16 nights of Boo at the Zoo. New this year, come experience the thrill of Bug-A-BOO, larger than life animatronic bugs! Fun for all ages, take in the glow as you control the light of the firefly, see a 12 foot tall moth, 14 foot long beetle and more at this exciting new attraction in Trails of Africa play area.
Calling all muggles: Grab your sleeping bag and cross Platform 9 ¾ to McWane’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in the Great Hall before heading to class to explore the science of magic (and magical beasts!) Make your own wizard wand, concoct potions, attend a Care of Magical Creatures class, and more! After class is dismissed, enjoy a special showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in the IMAX Dome. It’s a magical night you won’t want to miss! Don’t forget your costume! Reservations are required. Call (205) 714-8414 to purchase tickets.
The 13 Nights of Halloween schedule is out!! What better way to get in the mood and spirit of Halloween than with some spooky Family Friendly Movies… 13 nights worth!! Which ones are some of your favorites?
The 2016-2017 school year has begun! Moms in Birmingham and around the country rejoice for the freedom that a new school year brings, but that freedom doesn’t come without additional responsibilities for moms once their kids get home from school. Internet safety is a huge responsibility that falls on parents. Schools in our area are becoming more and more technology friendly. More electronics such as cell phones and tablets are being allowed in classrooms and many internet platforms are being used for both teachers to assign and for students to turn-in classwork.
