Teach your child good eating habits

Mar 21, 2004

There are a number of home lessons we take lightly yet they are fundamental to a child’s development. How many of us spare time to groom children on proper eating habits?

There are a number of home lessons we take lightly yet they are fundamental to a child’s development. How many of us spare time to groom children on proper eating habits?

Ability to eat decently shows good grooming and self-discipline.

Children do not stumble accidentally on proper eating habits. You must train a child early.

Children send different messages to elicit attention. Hunger makes a child cry, or react in many ways to elicit attention. Within a month of its birth, a baby has to be tuned to certain feeding habits.

I recently watched in disbelief as a neighbour forced her two-year-old son to take cold sweet potato and cold meat stew in the morning. The child earned slaps to drive the cold stuff down his throat. Was this a proper?

Research shows that habits learnt early in life remain in a person permanently. Is your child’s eating ways embarrass you?

Some of the things your child needs to learn are:
- How to handle cutlery? It embarrasses for a child to sit at table and gaze at spoons, forks and knives without knowing how to ues themthey are used.

- A child has to learn that it is wrong to eat while walking, talking or laughing; and leave others at table without excuse.

- A child must learn to respect mealtimes. It is indiscipline to eat while doing homework. These are precious times when parents cement relationship with their children. Never use mealtimes to criticise your child.

- Your child should learn to eat what he/she values. Exercising self-restraint at eating is good for a child.

It may not be possible for a school to groom a child on eating habits. Most memorable lessons in life are learnt at home and spending time with your child is not a waste.

jamesawagwau@yahoo.com

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