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Hi Everyone! I’ve been LOVING Erin’s workshop videos this week which have given me an extra boost of confidence to start this year and am working my way through the reading list!! I have a question – Erin, you cite a lot of different studies in your workshop videos. Do you have the links or places where I can locate these? My husband is very supportive of homeschooling, but admittedly a little suspicious of its effectiveness. He’s in the medical field and I’d love to show him the research that supports it.
Similarly, when my toddler is melting down because she’s angry at her little brother or she stubbed her toe, she loves when I respond in kind, “OUCH! That had to hurt!” or “AAAGHHH!” or “OH MAN!”
Doing this acknowledges her feelings and lets her know I hear her, I see and understand her, and I’m right there with her. She also finds it pretty silly when Mama exclaims loudly WITH her.
Thanks for your insight, friends!
A couple of strategies I’ve tried myself:
– Read aloud while they eat!
– Have a routine incentive after dinner. It’s generally our routine to go outside after every meal. For example say, “As soon as we’re finished, we can go outside!”
– The Timer: (This one is from two experienced homeschool mamas who have teenagers now!) Set a timer for 40 minutes. Once the timer goes off, I box up any food that’s left. Then we continue on our routine and still go outside. The child does not eat again until the next meal time, so they are good and hungry!
I really like the 15 minute trick! I usually have afternoon tea every day. By that time we’ve finished school and both my kids are heavy into play. So I sit and drink, and sometimes read a little. But mostly gaze out the window. I sort of dropped it this summer but as the seasons change I’ll start my little ritual again.
Our kiddos are slow eaters as well. Probably as a result of being big talkers haha. I usually just try to plan ahead knowing that it’s going to take forever and a day to eat. We usually sit down for lunch at 10:30 (SO early!) but I know we’ll be done by 11:30 in time for nap so I don’t feel like I have to rush them. Playing Raffi or an episode of “Brains On” podcast also helps them to just listen and not talk and in turn, eat more quickly! Sometimes when it’s dragged on long enough, I’ll set a timer on Alexa for 5 minutes and say when it goes off, the meal is over, whether you have food on your plate left or not! 😬😂
If you have instagram, follow kids.eat.in.color and mamaknows_nutrition. Both have lots of great tips. What’s been the most helpful for us has been having no pressure meals. I decide what’s served and when, my son decides what to eat and how much, even if it’s just a few bites.
We use the time timer as well, but I purchased the 120 minute one! My 4 year old occasionally boycotts nap time so we have instituted “quiet rest time” since younger siblings still take naps and need quiet. It has completely ended his “is quiet time done yet?” because he can see how much time is left. I think it’s helped grasp the concept of time as well and allows him to fully immerse himself in pretend play with whatever small items he has in his room that day. Super helpful, definitely worth the $$ in my opinion!
Time Timer Plus 120 Minute Visual Timer
Hi! I just got the Time Timer which is a 60 minute countdown clock and it has helped my two year old with transitions so much! If I tell him x minutes until nap or going out, he asks me to put the timer on. I hope that helps!
I just keep it in the back of my mind and use it when it feels right. Sometimes that happens only once, sometimes often throughout the week, depending on what life looks like.
My 2yo is going through a no-veggie phase. While I regularly put veggies on his plate, we don’t push him to eat them if he isn’t interested during that sitting. We encourage trying new things, but respect his ‘no’.
I do however, love making hidden veggie treats.
Here is one of my personal recipes for Sweet Spinach & Apple Muffins (they are green, so we call them Dinosaur Muffins). My son loves making them with me. Even though he sees the veggies go in, the result is so far from just chopped veggies that he loves them.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 apple grated (squeeze out excess water) *I used honeycrisp*
• 1 small grated zucchini (squeeze out excess water)
• 6 oz fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted & cooled slightly)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamonPreheat oven to 375 F.
Whisk together wheat flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, & cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Stir in grated apple.
Blend spinach, coconut oil, honey, egg, & vanilla in a blender to make a purée.
Pour wet mixture into bowl with dry ingredients & fold together until just combined.
Spoon batter into mini muffin & bake for 12 min (or until they pass the toothpick test).
