Child Refuses Meal, Claim?

[Play Care]

My very strong willed almost 3 yo dc girl comes in each morning at breakfast time crying and whining It takes her forever to warm up. Knowing this I usually have her breakfast ready and she eats it when she is ready - usually after all the other children have eaten. Today I offered her breakfast while the other children were eating. She, of course, refused. I told her when the other children were done, breakfast would be over. I gave her at least two more chances to join the group to eat. When breakfast was over, I cleaned up and we moved on. Guess who has been asking to eat for the last twenty minutes?

My question is this, because I offered her breakfast and she refused, can I still claim the meal? If it makes a difference, I did have the fruit portion of the breakfast already plated but was waiting to warm up the "hot" portion until she was ready.

On a side note, Dad was bribing her into a good mood each morning by letting her chew gum on the way here. And somehow I now have ground gum in my entry way door mat

[LaLa1923]

My very strong willed almost 3 yo dc girl comes in each morning at breakfast time crying and whining It takes her forever to warm up. Knowing this I usually have her breakfast ready and she eats it when she is ready - usually after all the other children have eaten. Today I offered her breakfast while the other children were eating. She, of course, refused. I told her when the other children were done, breakfast would be over. I gave her at least two more chances to join the group to eat. When breakfast was over, I cleaned up and we moved on. Guess who has been asking to eat for the last twenty minutes?

My question is this, because I offered her breakfast and she refused, can I still claim the meal? If it makes a difference, I did have the fruit portion of the breakfast already plated but was waiting to warm up the "hot" portion until she was ready.

On a side note, Dad was bribing her into a good mood each morning by letting her chew gum on the way here. And somehow I now have ground gum in my entry way door mat

Yes! You only have to OFFER it!! happyfacehappyface

[LaLa1923]

My very strong willed almost 3 yo dc girl comes in each morning at breakfast time crying and whining It takes her forever to warm up. Knowing this I usually have her breakfast ready and she eats it when she is ready - usually after all the other children have eaten. Today I offered her breakfast while the other children were eating. She, of course, refused. I told her when the other children were done, breakfast would be over. I gave her at least two more chances to join the group to eat. When breakfast was over, I cleaned up and we moved on. Guess who has been asking to eat for the last twenty minutes?

My question is this, because I offered her breakfast and she refused, can I still claim the meal? If it makes a difference, I did have the fruit portion of the breakfast already plated but was waiting to warm up the "hot" portion until she was ready.

On a side note, Dad was bribing her into a good mood each morning by letting her chew gum on the way here. And somehow I now have ground gum in my entry way door mat

I would not feed her after a meal is over, she had the chance to eat and then chose not to.

[snbauser]

Food program requirement is that you have the food and you offer it. You can not force a child to eat.

[Play Care]

I would not feed her after a meal is over, she had the chance to eat and then chose not to.

My hang up was that she asked after it was over and I said no. I didn't know if I could still claim it. But it was offered at breakfast time and she did choose not to eat.

[Willow]

I have to designate certain times to serve meals and snacks.

Everyone sits down together, whether they eat or not is their business, but once time is up it's up. My food program rep would get a good chuckle if I asked her if I had to feed children on demand to claim any of their meals

Absolutely claim, she'll figure it out eventually

[crazydaycarelady]

The FP requires that you list a meal time, so you'd probably get into trouble for feeding her not at that time!

I had the same issue with a lunchtime dcb but I claimed him even when he refused the meal (his mom loaded him up on junk on the way to my house after preschool got over.)

[LaLa1923]

I have to designate certain times to serve meals and snacks.

Everyone sits down together, whether they eat or not is their business, but once time is up it's up. My food program rep would get a good chuckle if I asked her if I had to feed children on demand to claim any of their meals

Absolutely claim, she'll figure it out eventually

[BumbleBee]

I can guarantee at least one of my dck will eat nothing at each meal.

I serve it at the designated time. Once the meal is over, it's over-whether they've eaten or not.

As long as I offer the food, I claim it.

[daycare]

as others have said, you are only required to serve it. You can lead a horse to water, you cant make them drink...

I make all the kids sit down and eat together, no one gets up until everyone is done. I found that when others where getting up when they were done that others still at the table had a hard time keeping focus on eating their own food.

If I have the time, I will read a book so that it keeps everyone at the table.

If a child chooses not to eat, then they will learn to have to wait until the next meal. HOWEVER, I do have a rule that before you can get down from the table, you have to try at least one bite. Hardly ever do I have a child that will refuse this.

[jenn]

You can't force her to eat. I would absolutely claim it.

I have set eating times. If a child is here during that time, they are offered food. (I have one that eats a junk food breakfast in the car on her way here, but since she is here during breakfast time, I still offer her food, and she usually eats at least the fruit.) If they are not here during the set time, or refuse to eat during the set time, they wait until the next meal/snack.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have to designate certain times to serve meals and snacks.

Everyone sits down together, whether they eat or not is their business, but once time is up it's up. My food program rep would get a good chuckle if I asked her if I had to feed children on demand to claim any of their meals

Absolutely claim, she'll figure it out eventually

Exactly. When I have parents come in late asking me to feed their children (usually as new clients) despite reviewing that rule with them already, I tell them no. I state that it is disruptive to our schedule and that meal time is already over. I abide by food program regulations and have a set amount of time for a meal to be out and then it must be cleared.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

as others have said, you are only required to serve it. You can lead a horse to water, you cant make them drink...

I make all the kids sit down and eat together, no one gets up until everyone is done. I found that when others where getting up when they were done that others still at the table had a hard time keeping focus on eating their own food.

If I have the time, I will read a book so that it keeps everyone at the table.

If a child chooses not to eat, then they will learn to have to wait until the next meal. HOWEVER, I do have a rule that before you can get down from the table, you have to try at least one bite. Hardly ever do I have a child that will refuse this.

Here is is the opposite. The children are all 2.75-5 here at the moment.
I allow them to get up and go read books after they are done and use the restroom. They are all eager to go do that so they finish quickly, leaving the slow pokes at the table eating by themselves.

[itlw8]

You have to have her sit at the table and place the food in front of her. Then she can refuse it. If you just ask that is not offering the food in the FP eyes. They actually want it plated and placed on the table. You can give minimum serving if you think she will not eat..

or if you serve family style if she sits and you put the food on the table and she refuses to take any then that is offering.

[Blackcat31]

My food program coordinator also ONLY requires me to offer.

I don't even have to plate it.

I just have to ask them and if they refuse, I can still claim it.


I am also like ECS and allow the kids who are finished eating to get down from the table and get their teeth brushed and bathroom breaks (before rest time) done and out of the way so the slow-pokes can finish up.