Battling Picky Eaters

If children's nutrition is a sore topic in your household, you're not alone. Many parents worry about what their children eat — and don't eat. However, most kids get plenty of variety and nutrition in their diets over the course of a week. Until your child's food preferences mature, consider these tips from the experts at the Mayo Clinic for preventing mealtime battles.

No. 1: Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one

If your child isn't hungry, don't force a meal or snack. Likewise, don't bribe or force your child to eat certain foods or clean his or her plate. This might only ignite — or reinforce — a power struggle over food. In addition, your child might come to associate mealtime with anxiety and frustration. Serve small portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give him or her the opportunity to independently ask for more.

No. 2: Stick to the routine

Serve meals and snacks at about the same times every day. Provide juice or milk with the food, and offer water between meals and snacks. Allowing your child to fill up on juice or milk throughout the day might decrease his or her appetite for meals.

No. 3: Be patient with new foods

Young children often touch or smell new foods, and may even put tiny bits in their mouths and then take them back out again. Your child might need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite. Encourage your child by talking about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture — not whether it tastes good. Serve new foods along with your child's favorite foods.

No. 4: Make it fun

Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favorite dip or sauce. Cut foods into various shapes with cookie cutters. Offer breakfast foods for dinner. Serve a variety of brightly colored foods.

No. 5: Recruit your child's help

At the grocery store, ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Don't buy anything that you don't want your child to eat. At home, encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table.

Tools for Better Listening

The folks at Positive Discipline offered some great advice for improving your listening!  Check our their helpful hints below:

Many parents complain that their children don’t listen, yet few parents really listen to their children. Parents tend to do the following:

• React and Correct: Don’t talk to me that way. Why can’t you be more positive, grateful, or respectful? You shouldn’t feel that way. Why can’t you be different—more like your sister or brother?
•  
• Fix or Rescue: Maybe if you would do this ____, then____.  (Maybe if you would be friendlier, then you would have more friends.) I’ll talk to your teacher (or your friend’s mother). Don’t feel bad.  Try the following:

Tools for Better Listening

1. Validate feelings: I can see this is very upsetting for you. Sounds like you are really sad, mad, feeling hurt. 
2. Ask Curiosity Questions:  What happened? Want to talk about it?
3. Invite Deeper Sharing: Anything else? Is there more? Anything else? Anything else?
4. Listen with your Lips Closed:  Hmmmm. 
5. Have Faith in Your Child: Know that, in most cases, your child simply needs a supportive, listening ear as part of the process of venting before coming up with his or her solution. Through this process your child learns resiliency (“I can deal with the ups and downs of life.") and capability ("I can survive getting upset and figure out solutions.").

Tools for Better Listening

1. Validate feelings: I can see this is very upsetting for you. Sounds like you are really sad, mad, feeling hurt.
2. Ask Curiosity Questions:  What happened? Want to talk about it?
3. Invite Deeper Sharing: Anything else? Is there more? Anything else? Anything else?
4. Listen with your Lips Closed:  Hmmmm. 
5. Have Faith in Your Child: Know that, in most cases, your child simply needs a supportive, listening ear as part of the process of venting before coming up with his or her solution. Through this process your child learns resiliency (“I can deal with the ups and downs of life.") and capability ("I can survive getting upset and figure out solutions.").

- See more at: http://blog.positivediscipline.com/#sthash.L0Vgc9Kn.dpuf

Many parents complain that their children don’t listen, yet few parents really listen to their children. Parents tend to do the following:

• React and Correct: Don’t talk to me that way. Why can’t you be more positive, grateful, or respectful? You shouldn’t feel that way. Why can’t you be different—more like your sister or brother?
• Fix or Rescue: Maybe if you would do this ____, then____.  (Maybe if you would be friendlier, then you would have more friends.) I’ll talk to your teacher (or your friend’s mother). Don’t feel bad.

Tools for Better Listening

1. Validate feelings: I can see this is very upsetting for you. Sounds like you are really sad, mad, feeling hurt.
2. Ask Curiosity Questions:  What happened? Want to talk about it?
3. Invite Deeper Sharing: Anything else? Is there more? Anything else? Anything else?
4. Listen with your Lips Closed:  Hmmmm. 
5. Have Faith in Your Child: Know that, in most cases, your child simply needs a supportive, listening ear as part of the process of venting before coming up with his or her solution. Through this process your child learns resiliency (“I can deal with the ups and downs of life.") and capability ("I can survive getting upset and figure out solutions.").

- See more at: http://blog.positivediscipline.com/#sthash.IW13zyRc.dpuf

Many parents complain that their children don’t listen, yet few parents really listen to their children. Parents tend to do the following:

• React and Correct: Don’t talk to me that way. Why can’t you be more positive, grateful, or respectful? You shouldn’t feel that way. Why can’t you be different—more like your sister or brother?
• Fix or Rescue: Maybe if you would do this ____, then____.  (Maybe if you would be friendlier, then you would have more friends.) I’ll talk to your teacher (or your friend’s mother). Don’t feel bad.

Tools for Better Listening

1. Validate feelings: I can see this is very upsetting for you. Sounds like you are really sad, mad, feeling hurt.
2. Ask Curiosity Questions:  What happened? Want to talk about it?
3. Invite Deeper Sharing: Anything else? Is there more? Anything else? Anything else?
4. Listen with your Lips Closed:  Hmmmm. 
5. Have Faith in Your Child: Know that, in most cases, your child simply needs a supportive, listening ear as part of the process of venting before coming up with his or her solution. Through this process your child learns resiliency (“I can deal with the ups and downs of life.") and capability ("I can survive getting upset and figure out solutions.").

- See more at: http://blog.positivediscipline.com/#sthash.IW13zyRc.dpuf

Snow Paint

If the real winter weather has your kids trapped indoors, try playing with the "snow" indoors!  This quick and easy snow paint has been a hit with kids of all ages, and dries with a fun 3-D effect.  Use ribbon, yarn, markers and stickers to embellish your art, and create a winter-themed masterpiece!

Directions:
1. Mix equal parts shaving cream and glue (mix glitter into you glue to recreate the sparkle of the snow).

2. Using their hands, brushes or other tools have your kids create a winter scene (hint: Heavier paper works best due to the heaviness of the paint).

3. Allow 30-60 minutes to dry.

4. Use other materials to add to your masterpiece.

A New Start

 When many people think of New Year's Resolutions their minds are filled with dramatic weigh loss plans, intense exercise regimens and a more productive work day.  The staff at BHF would like to challenge parents and families to take a new approach to the fresh start, and set a resolution that is family-centered!  Whether your goal is to take a parenting class, stop yelling so much, spend more time with your children or eat meals together as a family,  the possibilities are endless, yet all positive!

While we are challenging you to make a positive change, we are challenging ourselves to provide weekly resources via this blog.  From activities, to positive discipline strategies, to tips and tools to help reduce the daily stresses associated with raising a family, we will look to deliver helpful, applicable ideas and information.  So, pass this site along and please feel free to comment and pass along ideas of your own!  Most of all, Happy New Year!