How to Deal With Picky Finicky Kids

Are you your kid's slaves? Do you find yourself cooking several different meals for several finicky, picky kids who will not eat what is put in front of them?
Here are some clues as to how to get your kids to sit down and eat together. This is crucial as tiptoeing around several kids and cooking several 'made-to-order' meals in expensive and time-consuming.

You need to establish rules for a sit-down meal. . Turn the television off. Focus on conversation that includes everyone. Don't use dinner time to nag or punish your child for behaviors that aren’t related to mealtime. A kid that associates meals with getting punished ends up with eating disorders or worse – a lack of weight gain due to being too upset to eat.

Make it clear that at mealtime nobody leaves the table until you say so. He or she must stay seated and there must be decorum. No throwing of food, silverware, making funny faces or any of that.

You can reinforce good behavior at the table by complimenting your child whenever he or she does something right.

Finicky eaters might respond well to a time limit. Limit dinner to a half an hour. Make the kid eat everything during that time. If he or she does not finish by the end of the thirty minutes the plate is removed. This prevents the kid from dawdling while eating.

Don't let kids think that you are a short order cook. You can plan your menus in advance. Include your picky eater by letting him or her help plan the family menu, encouraging them to try something new. Children’s cookbooks are available to help with meal planning. Once you have created a menu, stick to your plan.

Denying a kid that won't eat dessert is far. Desserts or snacks should only be given if your kid finishes the previous meal.

Finally, make an attempt to make your children their favorite foods. This will encourage them to eat and also make them look forward to dinner. Encourage talk about food at dinner about why they like certain foods and not others. You can use dinner time to teach them about eating well, cooking and shopping.

Of course, not all picky eaters are control-freaks. If you suspect that a health problem is behind your child's picky eating then be sure to take him or her to a doctor for a check up.

Free Ways to Have Fun With Your Kids

With a recession on it is hard to keep taking your kids to the movies or buy them new toys. Here are some free ways that you can have fun with your kids without spending much money or any money at all!

One thing that most kids find fun is to go on a nature walk. Pick up natural items from the forest floor or the side of a stream and then when you get home create natural collages together. You can collect objects that are seasonal and make a collage about 'autumn' or collect objects near the ocean and make it about 'the seaside.' The artistic and educational options are endless and the kids learn things too.

Another way to have fun with your kids is to just go to the park and feed the ducks or squirrels. This teaches them to bond with small animals as well and to show respect for them.

You can also take your kid on a trip to clean up a local creek or park. Make them feel good about themselves by having them pick up litter. Make sure they wear gloves and explain how they are helping the environment when they do so.

If you have an overweight kid walks in the park can help take the pounds off. However nothing beats a few rounds of hula hooping to help trim that child's waste.

Older children enjoy being read to, especially if you take the time to read them some comic books.

Finger painting is a fun past-time for the younger child. On a rainy day just hand over the paper and paint and let them go wild.

One thing that kids of all ages enjoy is simply going to a park, blowing up balloons and giving them to other people who look like they need some fun or cheering up.

If your kid is a young entrepreneur set him or her up with a lemonade stand. This teaches them to cook and a bit about business. It also helps them to make a bit of money on the side to spend on a treat!

If your kid seems a little bit grumpy do some crazy things together like wear your socks on your hands and yoru mittens on your feet. Wear crazy socks and your shirts inside out. Kids today are very worried about things they should not be like money and environmental disasters. Being as playful as possible helps keep them motivated and in a good mood.