meals

[abigailrw5]

How long do you have them sit for a meal? When they are fast eaters or just picky eaters that are not going to eat. 20 min? Do you make that picky eater sit for 20 min?

[Emsdayhome]

I have infants and toddlers, so I clip them into highchairs for lunch, and snacks. We always sit at the table together, and eat. If they're being picky and not eating, I'll give them a sensory shaker or something, for them to check out and explore. I don't typically have anyone not eat though, but occasionally the babies will be picky. Lunch usually lasts about 20-30 mins over here.

[Familycare71]

Everyone sits here together and stays at the table until everyone is done eating. Generally my picky eaters who were "full" or all done will eat some more while they wait. No toys at the table here. We chat and eat. I would say lunch takes about a half hour

[melilley]

We all sit together as well. I have 4 that sit at a table and 2 in highchairs and we all sit by each other. I do have one little 2 yr. old who rarely eats, but he does have to sit with us at least until one other child is done (about 15-20 min). He likes to sit and look at the food and wants to get right up so I do it to see if he will eat, sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't. My other children all eat and when they are done they can get up. I don't really have any fast eaters. I don't allow any toys at the table either. Our lunch typically lasts from 15-30 minutes from the time the first child is done to the time the last child is done.

[MamaBearCanada]

Everyone sits here together and stays at the table until everyone is done eating. Generally my picky eaters who were "full" or all done will eat some more while they wait. No toys at the table here. We chat and eat. I would say lunch takes about a half hour

same here

[LK5kids]

Everyone stays at the table until the majority are done. If someone takes a super long time they can get washed up and leave the table. Our lunch is about 20/25 min

[Willow]

We all sit down at the same time, we all leave the table at the same time. I don't care if you eat several platefuls or eat nothing at all. Our lunch lasts a half hour and everyone sits together for the duration starting at about 9 months of age.

[Stepping]

We all sit together with 4 at the table and 2 in high chairs. Lunch usually takes about 20-30 minutes and early finishers can leave the table and play with puzzles set out at the other side of the room. Picky eaters stay seated until they have had a bite of each food item and until another child is finished.

I keep baby toys handy to keep babies engaged when they have finished.

All kids at the table clear their own place before being able to go play.

[daycarediva]

Everyone sits here together and stays at the table until everyone is done eating. Generally my picky eaters who were "full" or all done will eat some more while they wait. No toys at the table here. We chat and eat. I would say lunch takes about a half hour

Yup yup. We eat lunch like a 'family' style dinner.

[WImom]

I make them all sit until I'm done putting out nap mats and I've finished eating my lunch. I usually finish about that time if not earlier than most of the kids.