We are all guilty of it: phones, laptops, 24/7 network news – there is always something that is taking our attention away from the present moment. And this generation is the most affected – ever! Starting as young as toddlers, children today are simultaneously navigating an “electronic” world while still learning how to navigate the “real” world around them. When it comes to building healthy and sustainable habits, mealtime distraction is one of those unforeseen pitfalls that can take our children off course very early on! That’s because from birth up until school-age, children have a natural ability to self-regulate their own appetite. This process of “appetite training” requires them to be mindful of their body’s own innate signaling; when to start and stop eating. This delicate messaging system can easily be overridden by any and all distraction – including TVs, phones, tablets and even puzzles and games. To nurture your child’s ability to self-regulate, do your best to limit the “mindless” distractions at meal and snack times, and encourage them to “listen” to their body’s signals that let them know when they have had enough to eat!
Motivation: Mindlessness
