Mealtimes are a constant battle in the homes of many families, and there are a whole host of problems that mom could be facing. She could be dealing with a picky eater, who only wants to eat dinosaur nuggets and French fries. Mom could have a messy eater on her hands, who makes sure to get food everywhere except in their mouth. Mom could also be dealing with one of the most frustrating eaters, the slow eater. When a child is a slow eater, it can take a toll on mom who just wants to keep going about her day.
There are many reasons why a child may be a slow eater, and if mom can recognize these in her child, it may offer an explanation and some helpful advice on speeding them up just a little bit.
The Environment Matters
According to Family Health Service, children eat a lot better when they are in a relaxed environment. This means that if there is a lot going on in the room where a child is eating, they are going to eat slower. If the TV is on, or if there are screens in the room, they are going to put their attention on the screen and not on the plate in front of them. Radio can also be a distraction for a child, so it is best that mom tries to keep the environment as calm and peaceful as possible.
The Famous Power Struggle
Children who are slow eaters could be trying to engage in a power struggle with mom and dad, according to Alyson Schafer. This power struggle is not so easily defined by parents, because it does not present as angry outbursts or throwing food across the room. Being lazy and slow when eating is a far less obvious sign of a power struggle, but they can be just as effective. The behavior of eating slow could be to 'test' mom to see just how long she will make them sit there and eat before she gives in and lets them down from the table.
There can be many reasons why a child may engage in this type of power struggle with mom. They could want mom to feed them, or they could want mom to sit when them until they are finished, these are the benefits that children gain by being a slow eater.
All About Attention
Children seem to work in mysterious ways, and they do these types of behaviors without us really understanding why. If your child is a slow eater, they could be looking at more one-on-one time with you, according to Ellyns Atterin Institute. If mom is sitting with her child why they are eating, which a lot of mother’s do, her child could be seeing this as a wonderful opportunity to have mom’s attention.
This is especially true if there are multiple children in the house, and the child may feel like they have to fight to get mom’s attention. They know that if they eat slow, mom will stay with them until they finish, and even though it may be negative attention, it is still attention. Mom should try and spend more time with her 'slow eater' to see if that alleviates the problem.
Sources: Ellyns Aterin Institute, Alyson Schafer, Family Health Service