The meal, especially the evening meal, is a unique family moment that brings parents and children together in a friendly and good mood. However, there is a problem: your child has a tantrum in the middle of dinner. He sulks, throws a tantrum and contradicts everything you tell him to do. For parents who are confused by such behaviour, here are some tips on how to deal with these outbursts of rebellion.
DON'T GET DRAWN INTO THE CONFLICT
Don't let yourself be drawn into a conflict that will make eating time even more upsetting. Above all, you should know that this is a phase that makes your child somewhat defiant. Indeed, he is beginning to realize that he is a person in his own right who can be dissociated from his parents. This newly acquired psychic maturity pushes him to test the limits of those around him. Mealtime is a good opportunity to express the authority he has, since it is an important moment. It is true that parents give an essential place to the food of their child. However, their refusal of certain foods should never justify a double portion of dessert.
ISOLATION FOR BETTER EATING
Being alarmed and rushing to cook what he likes will not solve the problem and will, on the contrary, give your child more power than he has. be patient and explain calmly that the meal is a collective moment where everyone should eat. Make him understand that if he doesn't feel like it, he has the right not to eat, but he will have to wait for the next meal without disturbing the others. Don't give in by offering a snack with sweets. If the tantrums persist, make him eat without the rest of the family, but let him know that this is not a punishment or a rejection. Be patient and let him have his tantrum without significantly changing your attitude. Don't bargain or reward him in any way if he does eat.
PREPARE HIM BEFORE THE MEAL
The origin of a tantrum may be the untimely interruption of a game in which your child was very involved. The thread of his thoughts and imagination is cut off and he will take out his frustration on the meal. If you have childcare but are not a parent, follow the family's eating habits and especially warn the child a few minutes before eating. Reiterate the warnings so that he can prepare to stop playing and reconnect with reality.
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