Salam Alaikum sisters, hope you all doing well🌸
A QUESTION from one mum
How nicely I should explain to almost 2 year old child to eat at the table and not to run away from it? It’s irritating me and I always shouting.
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What's the problem with running?
If a child running away with food, you can keep the limit/ boundary that the food remains and is eaten at the table, but
wanting a child just sit quietly for a long time is not realistic at his age.
At the same time, you can calmly maintain constant limits/ boundaries , depending on what you need.
If you want the child not to move away from the table when he stands up ask him if he has finished eating or if he wants more. If he wants more, then he should sit down. If he stands to run away you can take a plate (respectfully, calmly explaining what will happen).
If it's okay for you he run around (because it can be too difficult for a child of this age to sit still and I really don't recommend the screen at the table), but you want to keep the limit/boundary of eating only when you're sitting at the table, then await until he sits down and then put a plate.
All rules/ limits/ boundaries should be discussed in between spouses and adults as well should follow these rules and help children. Remember- kids, especially that age following our behaviour and feeling us more than you can imagine.
So any rules should be applied firm and without exception to everyone in your household, example- dinner time and everyone eating at the table.
About boundaries we are talking more in the classes. But for setting rules and for keeping them in place it’s adults responsibility, not children. Children will be testing them and it’s their “job”.
Patience here is the most important thing. A child never against you so don’t take anything personally. Children emotions are natural. So accept them.
If a child took food and run away and seeing you and smiling / laughing he is not doing it to make you angry. He is testing your boundaries and at the same time exploring/ learning. Children don’t have impulse control at that age, so shoutings, slapping, threats , bribing and other punishments won’t help them to speed up their natural development or understand things.
That’s why calmly but firm keep boundaries in place. If you become irritated, angry it’s your emotions, so first you need to turn to yourself. Because only your calmness can make a child to understand rules and develop new habits naturally and without fear.