do your toddlers/kids have dessert?

[Anonymous]

I was reading the thread about kids having a family dinner when the Dad doesnt get home until 7pm.
A lot of people suggested that the kids eat dinner early and then have dessert later, Do a lot of people do this?

We have a toddler and I work shift work ( 12 hours) on my work days I get home and do the bed time routine but on the days i'm off we all eat together around 5/5.30.
We never have dessert.
Sometimes after she is in bed we will have something if were watching a movie, but we never have an official dessert after dinner. I don't plan in starting it either.
If your kids do, can you tell me why? and what they have?

[Anonymous]

We don't have dessert most nights. When they know dessert is a part of the plan, then the game is "how few bites of my dinner can I get away with before I get dessert" and I just don't want to deal with that. If we do have something for dessert, I'll tell them right after dinner. We do this once every other week or so? Twice a month? If I make dinner that the kids aren't fond of, they don't get another dinner, but I may make a surprise smoothie after dinner so I know they don't go to bed hungry.

[Anonymous]

Mine gets a cookie most nights. Just because its fun. And I can use it - "you can have the cookie if you eat your chicken". It's motivating

[Anonymous]

I was thinking the same thing when I read that thread. No deserts at my house. Usually there's fruit with dinner, but not after.
Once in a while, when a treat is in order, then we'll have some icecream.

[Anonymous]

if the ice cream man comes through, he will get an ice cream, otherwise, we do fruit, a yogurt, a cookie or two. Once in a while I might make brownies.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Dd does not know dessert exists.

[Anonymous]

Not on a regular basis. He knows what dessert is, and knows it's a special treat. But there's no expectation of dessert every night after dinner.

[Anonymous]

In general, no dessert. If we do something sweet, he gets it right after school rather than right before bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Dd does not know dessert exists.

Sad

[Anonymous]

Yes. I grew up always having dessert. My kids are 6 and 8.
I always have dessert, too. Ah well.

[Anonymous]

We have a snack before bed. I wouldn't call it desert as it usually does not involved sweets. Mine don't really know dessert exists either. One refuses ice cream and all sweets.

[Anonymous]

Mine actually hates most treats that would be considered dessert. He doesn't like cupcakes, cake or ice cream. He complains that they are too sweet. The only treat he likes are chocolate chip cookies and he typically only gets that on special occasions or for a special treat.

I'm fine with his dislike of sweets and candy. It makes it much easier!

[Anonymous]

I would love to but neither my kid nor my husband like it! Just not a sweet tooth between them. If I make cookies / brownies, guess whose ass gets fat?

It's kind of a bummer but I know logically it is great. My son does like fruit but we've never used the word dessert so when others offer it he looks at them almost puzzled. Kind of funny.

[Anonymous]

We will have a snack while watching a movie before bed like pop corn, or crackers but not ice cream, cake or cookies. Not sure if that makes a difference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not on a regular basis. He knows what dessert is, and knows it's a special treat. But there's no expectation of dessert every night after dinner.

+1 If anything we might give them some fruit but cookies/cakes are only an occasional treat.

I was puzzled about this in the other thread as well. Are people giving the kids dessert just so that they have this version of "family dinner" with the dad? Seems like a bad habit to start.