When kids nowadays are picky eaters and then kick and scream if they’re not watching their iPad while eating
By E
@Karusa (703)
Italy
December 17, 2023 12:44am CST
So, I passed by cousins house yesterday for a quick coffee and a chat
She looks after two young boys under the age of 6.
The youngest is almost 2.
I found her husband at the table with him on his lap and a set up of a dish of pastina and a tablet in the child's face.
The child was very accustomed to pressing buttons on the YouTube channel and knew exactly what cartoon to choose.
Whenever he tried to spoon feed him more food, he turned his face and stared at the tablet screen
I find it horrifying, that people spoil children to technology in order to make them eat
It's like bribing them .
When I was a child, I wasn't even allowed to watch tv during meals
9 people like this
11 responses
@arunima25 (87770)
• Bangalore, India
17 Dec
Oh! That's a big issue these days and it leads to so many issues later. I am an educator and counselor and I keep seeing and hearing such cases. Sad that parents don't realise how detrimental these habits can be on child's social and emotional health. They do realise ir when the problem manifests itself in bigger behavioural issues.
2 people like this
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
17 Dec
This has nothing to do with education. One this is a toddler not a teenager and you can not talk to a todder like you can a teenager. Granted there brains are pretty much in the same stage thus the reason why they say todders are like teens and so on.
But this is the thing when you not the one sitting with a child trying to get them feed what they choice is there business not an outside person that isn't there. Also you have to put in other factors this might be this kids first time with a stranger and trust needs to be established, two is the child special needs, also and last toddler there attention span is that of 2 minutes at time and do you know what changes colors and pictures changing keeps that focus food doesn't change colors ever 2 minutes. But textures, smells, taste can be off putting more so if that child is nerodivergent and seeing as neither of you where the ones doing care taking your thoughts of what is right or wrong get shoved to the side.
@arunima25 (87770)
• Bangalore, India
17 Dec
@Karusa Yes, they find an easy way out in the present and don't think of its bad effects in long run.
1 person likes this
@TraveOnWorld (854)
• Georgia
17 Dec
I was fortunate to spend time on big farm in the desert once. Every afternoon when I took my vegetable scraps to the chicken coop, those chickens came running, and I mean really truly RUNNING. They were so happy to get food. Contrast that to my nephews and nieces ( they can barely eat home cooked food, and don't even try to get them to the table) and to what you described here.
Technology is for the everyday mundane "entertainment".
A meal, on the other hand, is not the everyday mundane - it is special, it is a thing of wonder. If children are brought up by their parents to have so much disdain for their food, I would rather be with chickens; chickens seem to understand life better.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (49432)
• Mojave, California
17 Dec
Its horrifyning how kids so disrespectful in general and adults not any better lately here. Its like pulling teeth going you are a adult and supposed to set an example.
1 person likes this
@wiLLmaH (8802)
• Singapore, Singapore
18 Dec
It's concerning to see how technology is being used as a tool to coax kids into eating, especially at such a young age. While I understand that parents sometimes resort to creative strategies to make mealtime less of a struggle, relying on a tablet to distract a child during meals raises some valid concerns.
Me too, I am not allowed to eat in front of a tv :
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
17 Dec
First, this event has nothing to do with you. Seeing as you are a third person coming and it's your cousin taking care of someone else kids why does it matter to you what he or she chooses to do in the moments of being a caretaker?
Is it your child?
Secondly, what does screen time have to do with picky eating? Nothing!
I will tell you as a parent the best thing for you to do is walk away. It didn't hurt you, it had nothing to do with you. What caretakers or parents choose to do get another child to eat is up to them. Don't make it a big deal. Children don't come with handbooks. What someone does to get a child to eat food because you know if they don't eat they starve is really up to them and not you.
@RebeccasFarm (89863)
• Arvada, Colorado
17 Dec
Yes back in my day..nothing like this was allowed.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50208)
• United States
17 Dec
People use modern technology way too often to bribe and babysit their children. I’m glad that I was a child before all of these devices came about.
@peachpurple (13962)
• Malaysia
17 Dec
Modern era and olden days are difderent dear. When i was young, only mom with cane in her hand can make me finish my porridge. Now era is techno world. Kids equals to gadgets
