Is your 6 year old a messy eater

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently battling my 5 year old to USE her damn fork. She prefers to eat everything with her hands. This never really bothered me because a lot of foods can be finger foods. But man, I lost it watching her try to do this with rice the other day. USE THE SPOON RIGHT THERE! She *can* use it just fine. Just chooses not to? After a few stern reminders she's doing a bit better.

But yeah, the picking up one spaghetti noodle at a time to eat it drives me bonkers. She insists that I not cut her noodles at all.

In contrast my 3 year old is still pretty messy around his plate, but is excellent at using his spoon (for everything no matter what).

My 5 yo uses fingers a lot too -- and it drives me crazy. Then his fingers are dirty and he touches everything. I am constantly reminding him about utensils.

Meanwhile, my 9 yo cannot eat anything crispy without a shower of crumbs everywhere.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with kids who do not have perfect table manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My almost 6 year old is neat as can be, because if he's not, the dogs will eat the crumbs out of his lap and he hates that. Of course, that shows how untrained the dogs in my house are, so not exactly a win.

LOL I wish I had a dog as a mobile vaccume cleaner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8yo is still a little messy. Gets crumbs all over her placemat bc she will not, I mean will not, remember to eat over her plate.

She loves spaghetti, but insists on eating noodles and sauce separately. So she's picky, but makes for less mess.

Kids are messy, OP--it improves a little year by year.

omg, this is us too! My kids hold their food and then turn around in their chairs, or turn to talk to each other, or fiddle with their shoelaces or whatever. Gah! Put the sandwich down!

YEP! The big issue here is that he doesn't pay attention when he is reaching for something on the table or just doesn't see where his arms are and end up knocking over his or someone else's drink. I don't remember having this many problems when he was a toddler geeze. He does use a fork when eating spaghetti but when cant twirl it all on his fork, he will use his fingers to get it on his fork! Then touches everything else and will wipe it on his shirt instead of using his napkin. I have taken a picture of his face after he eats and showed it to him and he will laugh thinking its the funniest thing! Really??? How old is he??

[Anonymous]

That would be totally unacceptable. A few crumbs next to the plate maybe? Okay. But I train my kids hard from an early age to be neat and clean up after themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That would be totally unacceptable. A few crumbs next to the plate maybe? Okay. But I train my kids hard from an early age to be neat and clean up after themselves.

I don't have an issue with crumbs...he sweeps up after as that is his chore. Its the sloppiness when eating and getting food all over him, including his hair.

[Anonymous]

This thread is making me feel better. My 7yo is like this (and sweeps up after dinner) while her 4yo sibling is not (at least not yet!). My 7yo will not. use. utensils. It drives me CRAZY! Or like a PP said if she uses a fork or a spoon she is still somehow using her fingers to touch her food and push it on the fork or I don't even know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me feel better. My 7yo is like this (and sweeps up after dinner) while her 4yo sibling is not (at least not yet!). My 7yo will not. use. utensils. It drives me CRAZY! Or like a PP said if she uses a fork or a spoon she is still somehow using her fingers to touch her food and push it on the fork or I don't even know.

It really depends on the crowd on at any time. I have a messy eater despite my best efforts, I asked if it was normal some weeks ago, and from the responses, you'd think that most 7 yos were drinking tea with their pinkies extended and patting their lips delicately after every sip. Lots of "I do not allow messy eating in my house!" and "I taught my kids proper table manners from a young age..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me feel better. My 7yo is like this (and sweeps up after dinner) while her 4yo sibling is not (at least not yet!). My 7yo will not. use. utensils. It drives me CRAZY! Or like a PP said if she uses a fork or a spoon she is still somehow using her fingers to touch her food and push it on the fork or I don't even know.

OP here....do we have twins?? lol Does your 7 yo get food in his/her hair as well or wipe her messy hands on their shirt like mine does? Its sad that his 3 yo cousin is nowhere as messy as he is. And on top of that, think its funny when I show him what his face looks like after eating. Will your 7 yo use utensils for any food? I am glad to say that he will actually attempt to use his utensils 90% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for all your posts. I am grateful to know that I don't have the only sloppy eater at 6 years old. I just pray by the time he starts high school lol We go out to eat at least once a week and I dread it. Anyone else still use sippies or some sort of bib with their older one?

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old is messier than his 4 year old brother. It drives me insane. I threatened to send him to etiquette camp this summer (not sure this is a thing that exists)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old is messier than his 4 year old brother. It drives me insane. I threatened to send him to etiquette camp this summer (not sure this is a thing that exists)

Haha etiquette school! Is he bothered at all by the fact he is messy after eating. My son thinks its the funniest thing in the world when I stand him in front of a mirror to look at himself!

[Anonymous]

I think it's normal for the average 6yo. I have an 8yo and a 5yo. The 8yo is messier than the 5yo - there is always a ring of food around her on the table and floor after dinner. She also takes forever to eat, and mostly likely not neurotypical. And then I have an average 5yo who still prefers eating with his hands over using utensils (even though he is able to). But overall, he is a much tidier eater and finishes in a normal amount of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's normal for the average 6yo. I have an 8yo and a 5yo. The 8yo is messier than the 5yo - there is always a ring of food around her on the table and floor after dinner. She also takes forever to eat, and mostly likely not neurotypical. And then I have an average 5yo who still prefers eating with his hands over using utensils (even though he is able to). But overall, he is a much tidier eater and finishes in a normal amount of time.

My son was a S-L-O-W eater up until about 6 months ago. It would take him twice as long as everyone else. The crumbs on the floor don't bother me as much as the food all over his face, hair and clothes. The constant spilling of drinks also irritates me. Not to mention that he thinks its funny that he is a sloppy/messy eater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me feel better. My 7yo is like this (and sweeps up after dinner) while her 4yo sibling is not (at least not yet!). My 7yo will not. use. utensils. It drives me CRAZY! Or like a PP said if she uses a fork or a spoon she is still somehow using her fingers to touch her food and push it on the fork or I don't even know.

OP here....do we have twins?? lol Does your 7 yo get food in his/her hair as well or wipe her messy hands on their shirt like mine does? Its sad that his 3 yo cousin is nowhere as messy as he is. And on top of that, think its funny when I show him what his face looks like after eating. Will your 7 yo use utensils for any food? I am glad to say that he will actually attempt to use his utensils 90% of the time.

PP here. Yes, to food in the hair sometimes (but her hair is just past her shoulders), and she uses utensils without being told to only for things like cereal with milk. Other use is more sporadic. She doesn't use utensils at lunch (sandwich, snack foods, etc.) so maybe that is part of it, I don't know. I hope her 4yo sister doesn't learn these bad habits!

[Anonymous]

While getting kids to use utensils and not get crumbs all over, I skip all handheld food. I also make sure that plates are prepared at the counter, identically, so there’s no issues with “insisting” on their food not being pre-cut or plated appropriately.

Once kids show they will use utensils when needed and not make a mess, I move on to having them cut and twirl.