Is it normal for a kid (kindergarten age) to have a huge appetite? My dd is 6. She is average height and weight (last doc appt they said she was in the 50th percentile for weight, 70th for height). She used to be a picky eater...and sometimes she still is. But, lately it seems like she just can't get enough food! She will eat dinner (we usually always have some sort of protein, a carb and a veggie and/or fruit), then ask for seconds and then she wants something else to eat like 10 mins later. Tonight we had chicken and shrimp w/ sauce in the crock pot served over rice and peas on the side. She had 2 helpings of dinner. Tonight was treat night, so the kids got a little bit of orange sherbet after they finished dinner. She ate that too. Then afterwards she was back in the kitchen begging for a bowl of cereal or some peanut butter on a spoon. I am seriously doubtful that she is actually still hungry! But, the look on her face is like I'm starving her and she doesn't know why lol. She is in full day kinder this year and gets plenty of exercise, but no after school sports or activities yet. She claims she eats good at lunch every day at school and I know she eats a good breakfast every morning. She usually also gets a small snack right after school. Are all kids her age bottomless pits or is she just secretly trying to eat me out of house and home? :)
She is about to have a growth spurt. It is very common for kids to eat and eat and eat then pudge out a little bit then you wake them up the next morning and all of their jeans are too short....This is totally normal. Look for her to do this again around the age of 8 or 9. She'll be growing her adult bones in her hands and feet then. Right now she's growing some other features.
Sounds like she's about to go through a growth spurt. My kids all did this - they'd start eating like crazy and a couple of months later, they were an inch or two taller.
Kids are way more tuned into their bodies than adults, I think. If she claims she's hungry and is generally eating healthy food, I'd say let her eat. Of course, if she's going for cookies or chips, that could turn into a problem. But a small bowl of non-sugary cereal with milk or that spoonful of PB just might be the perfect snack to get her off to bed comfortably.
And measure her height in a couple of months...
Could be a growth spurt, or could be that she really isn't getting a good lunch. Many schools now only give kids 10-15 minutes to eat. Kids end up throwing out most of their food. Kindergartners don't always have the best memory of what happened during the day. She may remember eating something but not how much, or she may not understand what you mean by "a good lunch."
It is probably school. That may sound like a weird answer but school makes kids really hungry! The two main reasons are because 1. they are working hard and actively engaging their minds and bodies all day long 2. they don't always get a snack in the day and lunch usually isn't enough to satiate kids during the day, even in elementary school. I know she has a snack after school but it might not be enough to make her feel better if she hasn't eaten since lunch. New studies show that even kids in HS do better with a mid morning or mid afternoon snack (depending upon when lunch is).
I would say she's probably hungry if she's eating all that and asking for more. Just keep offering healthy options and if she eats it then she's hungry. It's possible she's going through a growth spurt too. My kids always eat more when they grow!
Sounds like she's really hungry and fueling up for a growth spurt...
If you want advice from the FAT LADY on how to keep your kid from growing up to be fat, NEVER fight about or limit food...concentrate on keeping them ACTIVE and being sure that if they're upset/angry/sad etc they talk and/or exercise....
How soon is her birthday? How long has she been eating like this? Sounds like a growth spurt, unless it's been going on for weeks.
Mine is just turning 5 and is going to full day K. She's eating a bit more, but not quite like that. She still eats here and there. Nothing consistent.
Hope you find your answer! Maybe keep a running log of her food intake to share with a pediatrician IF you feel it becomes an issue?
You should see what a 21 year old man can consume before, during and after dinner-and remain bone thin!
My daughter, now 10, will eat like crazy for a few days, then switch and not be hungry but will need a lot of sleep for several days, then she'll be noticeably taller. Really. This has happened several times. My two older ones did this same cycle. They all have their father's "tall genes". I never had a growth spurt...
Probably a growth spurt. My kids will do that. They will be eating us out of the house;eating everything! A few weeks later to a month or so it will stop and go to back to "normal eating." I know since school started back my 5 year and 6 year old comes home Straving. They will eat a sandwich or a snack and still eat supper on top of it. Half the time they will eat what the school makes and sometimes not. No wonder their hungry after school.
my daughter did this last year with full day k and now with 1st grade.
She'll have a bunch of days like this together and then a few days of not eating much and sleeping more like someone else said and then have a growth spurt. I cant notice in tallness because i see her every day but her little belly shrinks afterwards so i assume because it spreads out.
I think the full day school does this. they are used tp snacking on healthy things throughout the day and even the snack they give is the reccomended snack size. its about 5 little mini gold fishes. i dont know about you but i apparently give way more then the reccomended size.
totally normal. i ussually let her eat healthy snacks within reason. as in right before bed if she wants her 5th watermellon..nope because i picture M. cleaning up throw up but anything within the right time before bed i let her have
ETA I spoke to her doctor about this and the doctor said to encourage snacking before dinner and having a smaller dinner so she doesnt get used to eating those portion sizes and get bad eating habits. so now when she gets home from school she gets a snack and then it curbs her appetite a little at and after dinner
Not unusual, but one thing to make sure of... that she's getting enough fluids. Many times, our bodies mistake thirst for hunger. If that's not the case, then start clipping coupons ;)
I agree with what others have said about: making sure she has enough fluids, making sure she's not tired, other things that make us feel like we're hungry. Also about the eating more at that age, especially if they just started school. I'm actually hoping this happens to my son, since he barely eats once/day for the last year :)
You might also want to check out the book "How to Get Your Kid to Eat . . . But Not Too Much" by Ellyn Satter (sp?). She has so much info in there and may help you with ideas or just changing perspective. My friend's daughter is like that with food, but after reading the book realized that her daughter has a healthy relationship with food (eating well balanced meals, loving veggies, not thinking treats are only rewards, etc). Good luck!
