manners for a 3 year old

MOM222

Mon, Nov 06 2006, 8:04 pm

Remind again and again and again.

Of course a 3 year old is not to young to start learning manners. I remind my kids all the time. Cover your mouth when you cough, use your fork, don't stand on your chair....

And of course make sure you are also not eating with your fingers LOL

Goldrose6

Mon, Nov 06 2006, 8:40 pm

ok so here the thing he dose it at every meal (manely to spite my husband who thinks he should be old anofe to be useing utensiles) its couseing a lot of problems we tell him and he'll eat one bit with it and put it down then use his hand we tell him again and same thing all thorgh dinner, breakfast, or lunch I think hes just to young to inforce we can tell over and over again but not demand my husband thinks he shouldnt come to the table if he cant eat properlly
help need suggestions to a middle ground

Tefila

Mon, Nov 06 2006, 9:28 pm

At 3 there is no reason that they can't use a fork or spoon. Knife is already a harder feat to master. If it was my kid and it wasn't a finger food I too, would harp on it till he or she gets the message.

gryp

Tue, Nov 07 2006, 9:52 am

my kids start using forks and spoons as soon as theyre able to pick one up and direct it into their mouths. there is no reason for kids to eat with their hands!
if my 3 year old would eat with his hands I would take his plate away until he is ready to eat like a mensch. he gets ready very fast.

busymom

Tue, Nov 07 2006, 11:10 am

I think 3-year-olds can and should be expected to eat w/ forks/spoons.

Some additional advice: Kids are VERY smart. They can "feel" what their parents are thinking. It seems to me that one reason why you may not be succeeding at teaching this is b/c, unlike dh, you are wavering and unsure whether you can expect what your asking of ds. You wrote "my husband thinks" and "my husband said" and he does it to "spite my husband..." If your son sees that Tatty wants this, but Mommy is not so sure, he WILL try to get away with it. If you both come across as being very firm on this, he'll realize "my PARENTS want" and THEN he'll know you mean business and will probably cooperate.

Let me give you an example. Say we're shopping and my kids want some toy they see. When dh and me both feel strongly that they should NOT have it, we tell them so firmly and go on w/o a problem. But whenever one of us is wavering, then even if we BOTH say no, they KNOW that one of us is not so firm about it and they'll nag and nag.
Same here. If ur son sees that only Tatty is REALLY firm about this, you won't get anywhere. He has to see and FEEL that you are on the same page regarding this. I can almost bet it'll work then.