Mealtime Tantrums?

Is this at dinner time?
MANY times, if a child is tired or over-tired... or dinner is too late... they get fussy and/or cannot eat, even if hungry.

My kids are this way.
Thus I have dinner earlier, for them.
Solves the problem.

Whenever my kids are tired or over-tired.... they CANNOT eat, even if they are hungry. They are not being willful. They are just, over-tired.

Dinner does not have to be a battle. No matter how picky the child may be.
My son is picky. My daughter is not. We don't have food battles or meal time battles.

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Make sure you havent given any snacks 2 hours before meal time. Kids need to be hungry if you want them to enjoy the dinner table. I remember smelling dinner cooking and my mouth would be watering and my stomach would be grumbling and I'd be beggin mom for an apple or a piece of cheese... and she'd be all "Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes, NO SNACKS before meal time. It worked like a charm. I raised my boys the same way.
If dinner is at 6, dont let them have anything to eat after 4. Go outside and play for a bit and then come back in to the house so they can SMELL the aromas of dinner on the stove. It's the same way for breakfast, cooking something that smells good, even just a piece of toast in the toaster will get the senses going and make kids want to eat. You have to tease them sometimes.
Don't talk about DESSERT during dinner or before dinner, that gets them distracted.

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My kids (5 and 2.5) also have trouble staying on track through the whole meal. Sometimes I will feed them a few bites toward the end of the meal especially if they are having trouble with the silverware. This is more of a problem at dinner when the kids are tired.

I don't think I could stand sitting at the table over an hour with my kids. Usually 20-30 minutes is long enough--left overs can be put away. My 5 year old will sometimes start with a tantrum if he wants dessert but the rule in the house is if you have a tantrum you don't get what you want so he will often calm down when reminded of the rule.

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What time are you feeding him. Its possible he is just not hungry at that point. Are you feeding him early? Also give him a small bit on his plate. If you give him a small bit he will eat it up because its not that daunting. Once done he can have more. A little at a time works better.

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1) I'd make sure he isn't filling up on any foods or drinks before dinnertime,
2) Serve him smaller portions on smaller than regular dinner size plates,
3) Start restricting play time if it continues to cause battles when it's time to stop playing and eat, and let him know this is a consequence of his behavior
4) Let him know that playing with his food is not allowed, so blowing bubbles in his milk, playing with his napkin and silverware are out and discipline if he continues, the same with getting upset with the dog, etc., he's just using them as excuses not to eat.
5) Allow 30 to 40 minutes max to finish eating and dinner is done and take his plate away, no questions or excuses, by then his food must be cold and unappetizing anyway,
5) And discipline the tantrums before and after dinner, because tantrums are "not acceptable," and in light of the fact that they're increasing in frequency you really want to nip them in the bud now.

Be consistent in implementing the new rules, or he'll continue to act out, and hang in there, mom!

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Children like to have a heads up.

"In 10 minutes dinner will be ready. Do you want to put your toys up now or in 5 minutes?"

"In 5 minutes you need to wash your hands and come to the table to eat dinner."

Or you can include your son, by having him help set the table. First the plates, then the napkins, then the flatware.

Put the dogs outside. Make sure the TV and cell phones are off during dinner. Give the first few minutes to just eating, no conversations.

I also agree that very mall portions can really help make the food look more appetizing to a child. It is not so overwhelming. Even if it is only a Tablespoon or 2 per serving. As your child eats all of that serving, you can quietly add another Tablespoon of that item. At some point, you can say, ok you have 3 more minutes till dinner is finished.

We never battle over food or meals. You either eat, or you don't. No comments. Once he is older.. you could consider.. If you do not want what is for dinner, you may make a bowl of non sugar cereal.. Even the adults are given this option.

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Set a 30 minute timer for dinner....when it goes off, he's done. Give him a bowl of cereal before bed if he's still hungry.

This is a battle I've refused to engage. When they're like 2-4 it's really hard. Just put his plate out, set the timer and say, we're going to eat dinner in 30 minutes...see? ....Show him the timer.

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Is it possible you're paying too much attention to what he does or doesn't do. Eating is one of the few things a child can do to have control.

I would do as Laurie A. suggests. I'd add that once dinner is over for the adults it's over for the child. Put the food away. I"d stop having dessert available. It only adds to the pressure of having to eat.

Ignore tantrums. Send him to his room, saying I don't want to listen to you when you're upset. Come back out when you've calmed down. You'll probably have to escort him to his room at first but he'll learn to go when he's upset. Once he's in his room completely ignore him. He'll work at getting your attention but don't respond.

Realize that whether or not he eats is up to him. Stop trying to make him eat. Be matter of fact with the whole process. And.....keep the process at around 30 minutes. You can't make him eat but you're in charge of how you react to his reaction. Make his tantrums no big deal. It off to his room until he calms down.

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Stop making meal time a battle. It just makes it worse. Enjoy the meal and let it be. If he comes back later still hungry let him have something to eat. Stop fighting about food. It can end up being a starting point for eating disorders later in life.

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Your son is after your attention. Up to 2 hours is way too long for dinner, and he is getting your attention the whole time! Tell your son that if he is done within a certain time period, then he can have a story or some one-on-one time from you right after dinner. Also, when you are finished with your meal, try leaving the kitchen so that he gets no attention for being the last one at the table. Soon he will discover that he is bored with that and finish quickly so he can come be with you.

someone suggested we use a timer as a parenting tool...give your son a five minute warning that "dinner will be ready in five minutes" or "I need you in the kitchen in five minutes" etc. If you use the same technique before leaving the house, before bath time, before bed time etc. He'll be ready for it when it comes. At the same time you can set the timer where he can see it and say "you have five minutes to finish and once the timer rings dinner is done" to end dinner time. It will be a battle the first time you put the "end" on his delay tactics, but hold to your guns. You're the mom. You're in charge and it is your home. The great big world out there runs on a schedule, the teachers in school run on a schedule, even recess is timed. You're preparing him for the future. best wishes!