"I'm Hungry"

[Unregistered]

What do you do when your older kids (4+) constantly tell you that they are hungry during "quiet" time? I always make enough lunch for them to have as much as they want, and rarely cut them off, yet this is a daily issue. They want more lunch now, which I have, but all of their bowls, cups and utencils are in the dishwasher, and I really don't want to reclean the kitchen. We finished lunch less than an hour ago. I feel like a broken record "you should have had more lunch, remember to have enough tomorrow". I even remind them during lunch "don't forget to eat until you're full so you don't get hungry during quiet time"

Their constant whiny "I'm huuuunnnggggrrrryyy", is getting to me.

Don't worry about it. They are bored. They are not hungry. I would give them a timeframe of when snack is and then give them something to do.

[Blackcat31]

I feel like such a softie!! If they've eaten their lunch and aren't being annoying I let them have apples, carrot sticks or raisins in between lunch and snack. In my defense, I have always had really good eaters with any SA kids so it's rare I have someone who bugging for snacks who hasn't eaten all their lunch first.

I know...weak excuse right?? But I was skinny as a rail when I was a kid and always starving so that's always in the back of my mind. My mom kept a huge bag of apples on the front doorstep for us to eat between meals or would pass us pb sandwiches out the door and send us away. ::

One of my brother's friends is still nicknamed "Stealin' Apples" 20 years after after my mom caught him filling his pockets from the doorstep bag.

That's funny!

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with having snacks (like the ones you mentioned) available at all times but like you said, your kids DO eat.

I think that is a wonderful way to do things but I wouldn't even "think" about offering something like that with kids who rarely eat.

Those kids do have to learn to regulate their eating habits. I look at it like this: My job is to prepare them for school and in school, the kids eat at timed intervals.

No child is allowed to take a break in the middle of math class and go get a snack...kwim?

*funny story too about "Stealin' Apples" :: ::

[Angelsj]

That's funny!

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with having snacks (like the ones you mentioned) available at all times but like you said, your kids DO eat.

I think that is a wonderful way to do things but I wouldn't even "think" about offering something like that with kids who rarely eat.

Those kids do have to learn to regulate their eating habits. I look at it like this: My job is to prepare them for school and in school, the kids eat at timed intervals.

No child is allowed to take a break in the middle of math class and go get a snack...kwim?

*funny story too about "Stealin' Apples" :: ::

We home school, so I don't have a ton of experience, but the last two kids who went to a public school for a semester actually were allowed to eat at will. Anything you brought with you in your backpack was fair game.
I found it a little odd too, but the kids were always eating something. Some were grazers and others would just eat between their early lunch and official "snack time" once.

[Blackcat31]

We home school, so I don't have a ton of experience, but the last two kids who went to a public school for a semester actually were allowed to eat at will. Anything you brought with you in your backpack was fair game.
I found it a little odd too, but the kids were always eating something. Some were grazers and others would just eat between their early lunch and official "snack time" once.

That's nice that your school allowed that.
I've never been to a school or even heard of one here that would allow that.

Of course, my kids are older now so perhaps with the focus and attention on healthy eating, schools have changed their policies?

I have to wonder though about the risk factor of allowing kids to just bring what ever... what if there are kids with allergies? Or were they limited to not bringing peanuts/peanut butter type foods?

[Angelsj]

That's nice that your school allowed that.
I've never been to a school or even heard of one here that would allow that.

Of course, my kids are older now so perhaps with the focus and attention on healthy eating, schools have changed their policies?

I have to wonder though about the risk factor of allowing kids to just bring what ever... what if there are kids with allergies? Or were they limited to not bringing peanuts/peanut butter type foods?

I had the same concerns. Apparently, they "encourage" healthy foods, but don't actually ban anything except peanut foods. We got a list (not as comprehensive as they would like to think) of foods that would be removed from the child and tossed out, and they were all peanut foods.
My issue was more other allergens. What about a celiac child who now has to deal with flour covered hands on their work surface? My son is allergic (truly allergic) to many dyes, artificial sugars, etc. What about those kids?

Personally, I was not impressed, though my dds thought it was awesome! I questioned the practice, and was told it was "less disruptive" to allow them to eat at will than to give two or three non lunch breaks for those who were hungry. I think part of the issue was the length of "lunch." Some of the children were eating lunch at 10:15 and others not until 12:45.

[Blackcat31]

I had the same concerns. Apparently, they "encourage" healthy foods, but don't actually ban anything except peanut foods. We got a list (not as comprehensive as they would like to think) of foods that would be removed from the child and tossed out, and they were all peanut foods.
My issue was more other allergens. What about a celiac child who now has to deal with flour covered hands on their work surface? My son is allergic (truly allergic) to many dyes, artificial sugars, etc. What about those kids?

Personally, I was not impressed, though my dds thought it was awesome! I questioned the practice, and was told it was "less disruptive" to allow them to eat at will than to give two or three non lunch breaks for those who were hungry. I think part of the issue was the length of "lunch." Some of the children were eating lunch at 10:15 and others not until 12:45.

In other words, it was to hard to manage a bunch of kids who didn't eat lunch and were now whining about being hungry?... (NOT your kids )

"Less disruptive"....hmmm, I like that phrase. I think I could incorporate that in to a bunch of things I don't really wanna do. ::

[Angelsj]

In other words, it was to hard to manage a bunch of kids who didn't eat lunch and were now whining about being hungry?... (NOT your kids )

"Less disruptive"....hmmm, I like that phrase. I think I could incorporate that in to a bunch of things I don't really wanna do. ::

Exactly. ::::

[Chellieleanne]

Maybe at that age they are mixing up hungry feelings with being bored.
Deb

This! My littles don't usually complain but when I have the 11yo half sister to my DcB, after every snack or meal "I'm hungry". "You just ate, you had plenty. A snack is a snack, you can wait until you go home for dinner." Every.single.day. She eats three times more than I do and still complains she is hungry. I am pregnant and even when I am not I eat tons. She would hardly ever drink anything no matter my insistence that she needed to so I knew that was a big reason why. Then being bored because she never would bring anything to do and got bored with what I had and wouldn't bother to try to entertain herself.

[Butter Biskets]

I ended up making the "snack time is after nap time" sign. Talked to dcm and she is on board with everything, so when told "I'm hungry", I just apologize, point to the sign and say snack time is after nap time. I guess seeing the sign makes it more official and it seems to be working - BUT it is only day one.

[Blackcat31]

I ended up making the "snack time is after nap time" sign. Talked to dcm and she is on board with everything, so when told "I'm hungry", I just apologize, point to the sign and say snack time is after nap time. I guess seeing the sign makes it more official and it seems to be working - BUT it is only day one.

You could also make a sign showing the kids when snack time actually is.

You can take a picture of the clock at 3:00 (or whenever your snack time is) and hang it next to your clock.

When the kids want to know when snack time is, you can point to the sign and tell them when the clock looks like the picture.

I have pictures of the times each of our activities are in the preschool room so the kids can see for themselves what time each activity is....even if they don't know how to tell time, this is a great way to begin teaching/familiarizing them with time keeping.

[Butter Biskets]

You could also make a sign showing the kids when snack time actually is.

You can take a picture of the clock at 3:00 (or whenever your snack time is) and hang it next to your clock.

When the kids want to know when snack time is, you can point to the sign and tell them when the clock looks like the picture.

I have pictures of the times each of our activities are in the preschool room so the kids can see for themselves what time each activity is....even if they don't know how to tell time, this is a great way to begin teaching/familiarizing them with time keeping.

I was actually thinking of doing that but our times can sometimes (aka often) fluctuate depending on the day, otherwise, I totally would. I keep trying to track our day so I can be more specific with a visual schedule, but our day seems to have about a half hour - 45 flex time, where our timing is off. Like today, one baby napped for 2 hours vs. the 1.5 hour norm, dcg took 45 minutes to eat her snack, mom requested later nap times (by 30 min), etc. All of this (so far), makes it hard for me to form a concrete plan. One day I will get there, but not today, or tomorrow, I don't think.

[spinnymarie]

Every once in a while we have a chat about 'hungry' and how it is ok to feel hungry sometimes, that means your body is getting ready for the next meal - which is snack, after nap time.

[Blackcat31]

I was actually thinking of doing that but our times can sometimes (aka often) fluctuate depending on the day, otherwise, I totally would. I keep trying to track our day so I can be more specific with a visual schedule, but our day seems to have about a half hour - 45 flex time, where our timing is off. Like today, one baby napped for 2 hours vs. the 1.5 hour norm, dcg took 45 minutes to eat her snack, mom requested later nap times (by 30 min), etc. All of this (so far), makes it hard for me to form a concrete plan. One day I will get there, but not today, or tomorrow, I don't think.

My day is similar.

Post your latest time for each activity and if you get to it early, cool!
.... and if it's late and the kids notice it can be a great lesson in patience/waiting.