DO you let them get their own snacks?

[jeca]

Tyring to stock this house with groceries I decided to keep most snacks and drinks on the bottem shelves where the kids can get to them easily. I think that my son especially is old enough to get his own snacks and drinks if he wants instead of always having to ask(most times when I'm in the bathroom) and wait for me. I really don't have a problem with them snacking as I try not to buy much junk anyway. My mother thinks this is a diaseter and they should always have to ask for what they want. I say,they can help themselves this is their house too. It's really for my 6 year old. Most of the time when he gets a snack or drink he'll get one for his sister also.

Do you let your kids get their onw snacks and drinks freely?

[Parker'smommy]

My ds is a bit young for it yet, but Dr. Sears advocates this and says its a true test to what kind of food you will bring into the house. If all of the options are healthy ones, what's the problem?

I would say something to him say, if he is snacking while Im getting dinner ready, not telling him to stop, but remind him that dinner will be soon and that he would hate to be too full since you are cooking XX for dinner and they would hate to miss out!!


I told this to my mom in passing and she had the same reaction as your mom, but I think its generational. They are totally fixiated on CONTROLLING the child instead of guiding them in good choices. ugh

[calgal007]

Heck yeah my ds gets his own snacks. His choices in my kitchen are all good, so I don't care what he eats.

He's heading into the "big eating" years of puberty, so I may have to work nights just to afford groceries, though. . . .

[LunaMom]

My DD doesn't get her own. She might ask and if it's accessible, I'll say, "Sure, the banas are in the bowl on the table, go help yourself," but she wouldn't just take one.

It's a good thing, because she gets hungry as dinner is cooking and I wouldn't want her to fill up!

[mamaduck]

I wish mine *would* fix their own snacks. One more "Mom, would you fix me some...." and I'm gonna snap.

[shelbean91]

My dd is almost 4 and does occasionally get her own snacks. It depends on what it is and where it is. If it's something that I give her as an occasional snack, it's where she can't get it by herself. If it's fruit or something, I'll tell her to get it if she wants it.

[Britishmum]

Yep, almost all of them. Dd sorts herself out and her sister, and its all healthy! (she's 3 1/2)

[Fianna]

Yep. I keep their snacks, plastic cups/plates, and drinks where they can get to them. Almost always they say, "Mom, can I have ___?" and all I have to do is say "Yes, help yourself!"

[dotcommama]

Originally posted by Fianna
Almost always they say, "Mom, can I have ___?" and all I have to do is say "Yes, help yourself!"

Us too. My six year old often helps the 3 1/2 yr old get snacks.

Any naughy stuff we have like cookies or chocolate go on a way up high shelf where the kids can't get it - that just for me and dh

[Fianna]

Originally posted by dotcommama
Us too. My six year old often helps the 3 1/2 yr old get snacks.

Any naughy stuff we have like cookies or chocolate go on a way up high shelf where the kids can't get it - that just for me and dh

We also have the "good stuff" up high! :LOL My Sharfenberger Mocha Chocolate bars are on the top shelf in the pantry.

My almost 5-yr-old helps my almost 2-yr-old get snacks/drinks all the time. It's great!

[Trishy]

I keep Billy friendly snacks in a place where he can get to them easily and at will. Special snacks are kept locked with the rest of the food. I fix all of his drinks for him but he always has water.

[choleblack]

DD (3.5) gets her own snacks & also the snacks for the dog & cat.

We got a bunch of the little tupperwear containers & seperate food into mini snacks, like crackers & cheese in one container, or sliced apples & peanut butter in another. I've found that she eats a lot more when she doesn't have to wait for me to make something.

Chole

[briar]

The bottom shelf in our pantry is full of healthy snacks and cups for the water that is also within reach. From the time my child could snack (10 months) I have allowed her to get her own snacks.
The bottom shelf of the fridge is also full of snacks (fruit and such) my 3 year old learned to open the fridge at about 2 1/2 and helps her self. Even gets her own spoon for yogurt.
Why not let them get their own? It makes life so much easier!

[Cloverlove]

When dd was 2 she starting getting her own snacks. It drove me crazy at first but I just rearranged the snack drawer and now all choices are healthy. Ds was 6 at the time and the idea had never occured to him to get his own snacks! Now they mostly help themselves.

I keep out a water bottle so they always have soemthing to drink.

[LavenderMae]

Yes, my kids get snacks for themselves. They eat what they want and when they want to most of the time. When my dd gets herselve a snack she usually gets one for her little brother as well!

[momto l&a]

My dd loves to get snakes and drinks for her and her sister.

There where no food restrictions when I was a little girl ate when and what I wanted, of course my mom only had homeade good stuff. We where dirt por but she never once in my growing up years ever let that effect me.

[spatulagirl]

DS is 2.5 and he gets his own snacks. I never even thought about making them more accessible to him! I should do that. He just opens up the fridge or climbs a chair pushed up to the pantry to get what he wants! He even pulls out milk, juice or water from the fridge and lets me know which one he wants to drink. I wish he didn't do this and try to be in the kitchen when he is going for the drinks.

A couple of days ago he pulled out some biscuits and asked for them with jam. Yesterday he pulled out parmesan cheese (he loves it) and accidently dumped it on the floor, ate some, tried to clean it and then just left it! He forgot to tell me he dropped it so when I wanted into the kitchen to make dinner there it was. An interesting snack choice, if I do say so myself!

[ILuvMyBaby]

My son is to young for this, but I will have no problem with letting him get his own snacks. I guess I would like him to tell me that he is doing it and then I will let him go and get whatever he wants.

[nataliekat]

We only keep healthy food in the house, so I let Maisie snack whenever she asks.

She's still too little to get it herself (17 mo.).

At this point, I'm not worried about her eating the dinner I make. If she wants a healthy snack beforehand she's welcome to it. If she can't eat dinner because she's full, she'll be getting it for lunch tomorrow anyway (leftovers). At an age where food battles are just on the horizon, I'm just glad she's eating and eating healthy.

[eilonwy]

My son is only 16 months old, but we let him get a few things of his own. We'll leave a few ziploc bags of pretzels or grahm crackers where he can reach them, things like that. He knows where his soy yogurt is in the fridge and can get that too (though he has to bring it to me so I can get a spoon for him). Mostly he has to ask, but your oldest child is 6! My 6.5 year old niece gets her own snacks and snacks for her sister and cousin as well. She's tall enough, she knows what she and her sister are allowed to have, and I think it's good for her to have some independance. Geez, it's not like we're letting them drive or anything! :LOL