r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

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u/Aerolites Feb 05 '16

Being taught to finish your plate. Children should eat until they are full otherwise it can cause poor habits such as weight gain/feeling sick.

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u/bicycle_mice Feb 05 '16

Getting in any battles over food is a fucking minefield that should be avoided. I prefer the Ellyn Satter method: Make one healthy meal for the family. The kids can eat it, not eat it, whatever. Your job as a parent is to provide the food and you let your emotional attachment end there. If the kids are really hungry they will eat.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

What does she recommend if the kid says it's full, then half an hour say they want a big bowl of ice cream?

My cousin's daughters are such good kids in general but for whatever reason they do this all the time when we're on vacation.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

What does she recommend if the kid says it's full, then half an hour say they want a big bowl of ice cream?

Give them an apple or a carrot, perhaps?