PS3 or Xbox time!

Chatting to a mum at the school gate yesterday, I mentioned how I got my picky eater step-son to eat up and she suggested it might be worth sharing that tip here, so here goes.

He's one of those kids who uses food as a weapon for attention and his particular speciality if he doesn't get pizza at every meal is to eat painfully slowly.  From what his mum says, I think going slowly is his way of showing his displeasure in all sorts of things actually.

I hate electronic games but like most young boys, he loves them and given his way, I think he'd fester in front of the TV with his Xbox or PS3 24/7, in dirty clothes, unwashed, munching on the odd pizza and drinking coke.....I'm guessing he'd not be alone in thinking that was an OK way forward either!

So, last time he was staying with us, I devised a new rule.  Lunch time was going to be at 1.30 sharp and PS3 time would be for half an hour from 2pm sharp.  So if he wanted to take forever eating his lunch, that was fine, but it would cut into his PS3 time and come 2.30pm, the PS3 was being unplugged.

It was the most pain free week of meal times I've spent with him in 6 years.  He finished quickly, cleared his plate, stacked it in the dishwasher, drank his drink (he usually acts as though I'm trying to poison him when it comes to drinking water or juice) and was polite and friendly throughout meal times.

Some will call this bribery - they may be right.  But it worked for us and I'm guessing it'll work for at least some others too!