Do your kids play at the table instead of eat?

My daughter usually plays around during breakfast and does not really eat much. My son on the other hand tears into his breakfast and gobbles it down. It is him getting dressed that seems to take forever. A few times I have even found him asleep on the bathroom floor instead of getting dressed.

I have two twin sons. They always take much time to finish a meal just like your daughter does. I think it is normal of your daughter to behave like that because children are usually not focused on meals. Their attention always wanders and we have to remind them over and over again.

around me,the children always eat snacks instead of meal

It's FAR better for her to take 1/2 hour or longer to eat her meal than for her to rush through it and overeat. It takes 20+ minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you're full. If you eat too fast, you will probably eat too much before you realize that you're "full". Since she's taking so long to eat, it's probably her body's way of keeping itself healthy without it being a conscious effort for her. Staring off into space is also normal behavior, and I wouldn't rush her. If it's a problem, let her begin eating her dinner a few minutes before the rest of the family so you all finish together, or get her up a few minutes early for breakfast so she has enough time. She could also be very tired, which would explain the staring. She may be little, but she IS going through a lot--she just started school, so she isn't home with Mommy anymore, she doesn't get to do what SHE wants to do anymore; and she may love the idea of getting a new baby brother, but she may not even realize she's feeling bad because she's not going to be the "baby" anymore. Any and/or all of those (and maybe more) factors could be stressing her, and she doesn't even know why or how she feels "not quite right". At any rate, try not to rush her; her body will adjust her eating habits in due time. Good luck, and all the best to her (and to you!).

When I was a child, I think I got directly to eating. We were a family of six children, however, so I guess it was a case of [i]"Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who grabs the quickest, gets the most."

Usually only if they don't like the food. The twins are awful for it. My oldest is fine, he eats everything and anything put in front of him. The youngest you sort of expect it from, but the twins...it can sometimes take them an hour to eat their food. It's usually only at dinner time, because they have huge appetites in the morning. I know you worry about her having enough to eat, but some kids just really don't have an appetite in the morning. My suggestion would be to change things up, find a new breakfast meal that she may be more interested in, or try feeding her a little less. Like my kids have a huge appetite in the morning and honestly could not get enough to eat, but at night they could literally go without eating. Your daughter could be the opposite. Good luck.

Kids do that. I don't think that you have to worry about this. At least mine does it when he does not like the food. When he is hungry than it is another story. He grabs the food in a jiffy!

I had same problem with my boy. It could took for him one hour to finish his food. To make him to eat quicker i was taking a biscuit out of the press and was showing to him. Than i was telling if he want it he must to finish his food while i am doing something. For example washing dishes or stuff like this. It didn't work from first time but after he didn't get it once he start to it a lot quicker. Only be aware that kids don't want to eat everything all the time. They will eat as much as they need.