the kids for not eating. Eating is a Start behavior, not a Stop behavior.
What will help prompt the children to wolf down the chow? The
timer: tick, tick, tick. You can praise the kids when they do eat.
What if the timer rings and there is still food on the plates? No
dessert—at least yet. The plate goes into the kitchen and onto the
counter. Cover the leftovers with plastic wrap. After a half hour has
expired, the children have the right to finish the meal if they wish.
The food can be quickly nuked in the microwave if necessary. If the
children don’t ever eat the rest of their meal, that’s fine—but still no
dessert. Some parents throw the rest of the child’s dinner down the
disposal when the timer hits twenty minutes, but this procedure seems
a little extreme.
Stay on your toes when a hungry little tot who didn’t finish her
dinner puts the hit on you later for some treats.
ROUND ONE
“I’m ready for my ice cream now.”
“You’ll have to finish your dinner first, honey.”
“It’s all cold.”
“We’ll just heat it in the microwave for a few seconds, and it’ll be
good as new.”
“I didn’t like it anyway. I just want a little ice cream.”
“Now you know the rules, dear. You have to finish what’s on your
plate first. Remember, we didn’t give you that much in the first
place.”
“I never get anything!”
“What are you talking about—you never get anything? That’s
enough of that! Either finish your dinner or stop bugging me!”
“I hate you!”
This interaction was an unfortunate waste of time and also very
hard on this relationship.