food at aftercare = not eating dinner

[Anonymous]

Our school gives out hefty meal-like snacks in aftercare, which is of course wonderful for families that need it. However, as a result, my kid (who doesn't), no longer wants to eat dinner since starting school. It bums me out a bit because I really value family dinner, and now I feel like we're just forcing him to sit with us. Wondering if others have experienced this, and how you handled either at home or at school? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Can he just not eat, or just eat a smaller snack which you pack for him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can he just not eat, or just eat a smaller snack which you pack for him!

Good suggestions. It could also be a timing issue. Maybe he can eat the snack earlier or your dinner could be a little later? It could also be exercise. That he could eat his snack then go run around outside and play.

[Anonymous]

You are not forcing him to sit. He should be communicating with you all, at the dinner table, even if he is not eating. How was his day? Tell him about your day? Watch a tv show together? If he gets hungry later, then he needs healthy options.

[Anonymous]

Mine have always gone through phases of hunger. In kindergarten my children didn't want to eat a regular dinner. They had a very early lunch and would have a snack at school in the afternoon, then another at aftercare. I think they were also tired in the evenings. Now my son is older and could easily eat snacks, a meal when he gets home and another with the family. His appetite is huge during growth spurts.

I would focus on family time and conversations and don't worry when he doesn't want to eat an actual dinner. He will eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine have always gone through phases of hunger. In kindergarten my children didn't want to eat a regular dinner. They had a very early lunch and would have a snack at school in the afternoon, then another at aftercare. I think they were also tired in the evenings. Now my son is older and could easily eat snacks, a meal when he gets home and another with the family. His appetite is huge during growth spurts.

I would focus on family time and conversations and don't worry when he doesn't want to eat an actual dinner. He will eventually.

+1

[Anonymous]

I told my dd's aftercare teacher that she didn't need that meal and packed a light snack for her to have in aftercare instead.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Lots of families end up eating much later. Some kids may have sports, etc. before dinner. They may have older siblings or parents who do not get home until later. People also eat dinner at different times--ours was later than I would have liked when my kids were younger because DH did not get home until later. I valued the family dinner, so we waited--and snacked earlier. A neighbor ate at 4:30 to 5:00--we ate @ 7:00 (which is really too late, I think).

Do they get the snack right after school? If so, that seems reasonable to me. If they get it right before you pick them up, that is too late.

[Anonymous]

We had an aftercare like this. No way would my kids have turned down food. We moved dinner to a bit later and made it lighter.