Every parent knows the pain of mealtimes with children and that they can sometimes feel a little bit like a rollercoaster ride. Trying to keep their emotions in check can sometimes feel literally like juggling spaghetti while riding a unicycle.

One moment, they're ecstatic about their favourite food, and the next, they're crying because their broccoli touched their mashed potatoes. One second, they're happily gobbling down their meal, and the next, they're wailing because their sandwich is shaped like a rectangle, not a triangle.

Managing these emotional whirlwinds requires the patience of a saint, the creativity of a master chef, and the ability to perform magic tricks that transform ordinary vegetables into delicious superpowers.

You quickly learn to become a master in negotiation, offering bribes of dessert and creative distractions like talking carrots. But hey, the satisfaction of seeing them eat happily makes it all worth it!

Jokes aside, managing children's strong emotions during mealtimes can pose a challenge, yet it remains crucial to establish a nurturing and uplifting atmosphere that encourages them to freely express their feelings.

To help us better understand how we can do this, I’m excited to welcome one of our partners here at Kiddipedia Miss Sinead from Food Is Cool

We ask Sinead questions including:

1. (3:22) Why do you think it’s so common that children experience big feelings around food?
2. (9:28) What is the key to supporting hungry children at mealtimes?
3. (12:12) What tips do you have for parents on having boundaries, being consistent and being mindful of the language used?
4. (14:36) You mention it’s important to develop your child’s sense of agency and allow them to have a sense of belonging during mealtimes. Can you expand with examples of this?
5. (17:55) You mention to also ‘Talk about anything but the food!’ Why is this important?
6. (23:31) How can parents remain calm if big emotions arise?
7. (27:04) In your article you list 4 strategies to help parents keep their boundaries, can you quickly go through them with us now?

For the full article, please go to: https://kiddipedia.com.au/supporting-big-emotions-in-children-at-meal-times/

Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35807307/

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