Chewing

B.,

Must be frustrating. I also work in a daycare and the first thing I would suggest is talking to the parent. If you do not have their backing or support - they will go home and eat dinner and/or breakfast with the family and it will be a lesson in futility! I would find out if they are experiencing the same thing and then work with the parent on changing the behavior. Especially at 3 yrs old, you don't want the little one going to the mom and saying that Miss B. told me I was rude when I eat (giving their mom the shortened version) and have any questions arise.

Good luck!
J.

I sit my little ones beside me at each meal and everytime they chew or talk with food in their mouth I gently put my finger over their lips and shake my head no. It can be tedious but I just keep doing it until they get the hint. Also make sure that she is taking small bites and not big chunks.

Then if she continues tell her that it is very rude to show the food in your mouth while you are eating and that since she can't seem to remember to chew with her mouth closed, then she will have to eat by herself. Make her a little table with a tv tray at her chair and turn her facing away from the group.

That's what I do with the ones I watch. It doesn't take long for them to learn. I have to remind from time to time, but they get it.

I don't have any experience with this, but maybe make a game out of who can eat the quietest. Maybe give a reward to the kid who eats the quietest. Then talk to her about how in order to be quiet, she has to chew while she keeps her mouth closed. Or, you can play a game where you blow on their mouths while they are eating and how your breath is a bad thing (whatever you want to call it) and tell them that they don't want their mouth to be open to get the bad thing in it. Then, try to breathe on her while she is chewing something and see how she does. Just try to make it fun somehow. It'll be hard because I am guessing her parents chew with their mouths open and that is where she learned it from. Just try to make it a fun learning experience and I would guess it would work. Good luck!

I think that begins at home with teaching the child simple manners. I need to remind my kids from time to time to chew with their mouth closed.

Is there maybe a video or a book out there that the child can see that my turn the light on for her?

C.

B., I had to do a double take on this one because I too am a daycare provider and have exactly the same problem, only its w/ 2 of my girls who are nearly 3!!! I haven't found a magic solution yet, but I just gently remind them when they are doing it that they need to chew w/ their mouths closed and bless them, they do try! I have to agree w/ what your other posters said, that it starts at home and needs to be reinforced by parents and I have found that sometimes, the parents have the same bad habits, so you won't find resolution there!! Good luck and if you find a trick, let me know!

I have taught 3 year olds for years and this has always been a problem. Make it part of your daily lesson. When you sit at the table with them during meals say what are some table manners. Do we talk with food in our mouths? No. How do we chew our food. And then show them. When someone is chewing with their mouth open say remember how we chew with our mouths. It's a lot of repitition and it may take awhile but it works. Also because you make "manners" part of your daily routine when you send daily sheet home with the kids you can say hey parents we are working on table manners at school. Then maybe without having to confront the parents directly they will start doing it at home as well.
The parents have to know she's doing it too but maybe they just don't know how to teach her. Hang in there it's a long process, but it's worth it in the end. Hope this helps.
H.

If her parents aren't correcting this behavior at home, it will be difficult to get her to change. Maybe speak to her parents about it and ask that they reinforce table manners at home. 2-3 is the right age to start teaching manners, but so many parents feel they are too young. It drives me crazy!

B.,
Try using positive behavior modification. Verbally compliment every child that is chewing the correct way with their mouths closed. Example: Oh Mary, I like the way you are chewing your food with your mouth closed. Grant, good job chewing with your mouth closed. During the course of the meal all of the children who are chewing correctly will be recognized except "our culprit". Be ready to do a lot of talking. At circle time have children role play how to chew correctly. Mention table manners while visiting the housekeeping area too. Children love to be complimented. Our little one will eventually come around and as soon as they do it right be there to give the good job compliment. As the child shows improvement say, I see you are trying to chew with your mouth closed just like _ _ _ _ !!! Good for you.
J. Maloy (an old Head Start Teacher)

Have you tried a mirror? Have her (everyone) eat in front of a mirror to see how they look when they eat...NOT to make her feel bad, just to be aware of their bodies. Children of that age are excited to learn about themselves and the care of their body. You could start off by having all the kids look in the mirror to make sure their faces are clean before sitting down to eating and then check to see they are clean after eating. Teach them how to wipe their faces and mouths with a napkin and then check the mirror. Look at their teeth and you could talk about brushing after eating then too. Have ALL the children watch themselves eat and do a demonstration of yourself eating different ways and talk about how it looks when you chew different ways and what happens to the food if your lips are not closed so she does not feel singled out or ashamed. Talk about manners and other manners not just chewing. It could be a great way to build all types of lessons around care of the body and self awareness. Good luck!

We are battling the same issue with my now six year old. It has been going on for yearrrrs. He is an only child, so we don't have the advantage you might have to make table manners a competition with your kids. One lady suggested starting everyone at the table with 5 pennies and watch each other for bad table manners (elbows on table, mouth open, etc...) If you catch someone, you get one of their pennies. I don't know if that will work with your little one, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Mail me if you find the magic cure!

A.