Is your 6 year old a messy eater

[Anonymous]

Is it still common for a 6 year old to still be a messy eater? My son will use his utensils 95% of the time but still manages to get food all over his shirt, lap, floor and sometimes his hair! I tell him time and time again to try to slow down a little and pay more attention when he is eating but it goes in 1 ear and out the other. I swear, I dread spaghetti night here! Does anyone else here that has an older one that is a totally sloppy eater? I am at my wits end with it. I know I need to pick my battles but at 6, he shouldn't be getting food all over his clothes still right?? HELP!

[Anonymous]

Depends on the food. For spaghetti I cut it up into little bitty bites and she spoons it. Twirling on the fork is asking for trouble.

In general she has crumbs everywhere - a few spills on table - but it’s not like she’s eating like a baby.

Tuck a napkin under your boy’s chin when he eats to protect his clothing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the food. For spaghetti I cut it up into little bitty bites and she spoons it. Twirling on the fork is asking for trouble.

In general she has crumbs everywhere - a few spills on table - but it’s not like she’s eating like a baby.

Tuck a napkin under your boy’s chin when he eats to protect his clothing

Thanks, BTDT with the napkin/towel tucked in his shirt. I will try cutting the spaghetti to smaller bites. I never through about trying that. He doesn't eat like a baby but, he sure does make a mess like one most of the time! lol

[Anonymous]

We have 6 year old twins (7 in March) and yes, they are still messy eaters. I can’t believe how many crumbs they get around their plate, on their chair, etc. we keep reminding them to eat over their plate, but they tend to sit back and that doesn’t help. Not as messy as toddlers, but still messy!

[Anonymous]

My just turned 6 year old is like this. I think we are finally winning the battle on utensils because I've resorted to removing his food/plate if he doesn't use them. He seems to be getting the message -- the last two weeks he's used his fork without prompting about 75% of the time, which is up from about zero. He also is very loud and energetic and constantly bouncing in his chair, windmilling his arms, etc. He has to use a covered cup because he knocks it over half the time. It drives me insane. His 2.5 year old sister is a much neater eater, even when she eats with her non-dominant hand!

Of course messiness is only half the battle. 6 year old is also very picky; 2.5 year old is not. So dinner with him really is a battle. Breakfast is much easier as he likes breakfast foods. But he still makes a giant mess. Solution for that is anything he drops on the floor, intentional or not -- and often it is intentional -- he cleans up. That hasn't made much of a dent but at least I haven't been picking oatmeal and cheerios off the floor myself.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old daughter is a messy eater, which is intriguing because her older brother is the one with ADHD and he's rather clumsy... but no, she's the messy one at the table!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have 6 year old twins (7 in March) and yes, they are still messy eaters. I can’t believe how many crumbs they get around their plate, on their chair, etc. we keep reminding them to eat over their plate, but they tend to sit back and that doesn’t help. Not as messy as toddlers, but still messy!

I don't really mind the crumbs. Its the messy food that ends up on his clothes face and hair that bothers me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My just turned 6 year old is like this. I think we are finally winning the battle on utensils because I've resorted to removing his food/plate if he doesn't use them. He seems to be getting the message -- the last two weeks he's used his fork without prompting about 75% of the time, which is up from about zero. He also is very loud and energetic and constantly bouncing in his chair, windmilling his arms, etc. He has to use a covered cup because he knocks it over half the time. It drives me insane. His 2.5 year old sister is a much neater eater, even when she eats with her non-dominant hand!

Of course messiness is only half the battle. 6 year old is also very picky; 2.5 year old is not. So dinner with him really is a battle. Breakfast is much easier as he likes breakfast foods. But he still makes a giant mess. Solution for that is anything he drops on the floor, intentional or not -- and often it is intentional -- he cleans up. That hasn't made much of a dent but at least I haven't been picking oatmeal and cheerios off the floor myself.

I haven't tried physically removing his plate yet but that is something I have no problem trying. He isn't bouncy and basically stays put when eating. The rule here is no drinks outside the kitchen for obvious reasons. I still have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't sneak one past me. Not to pull the bad mom card but I swear he is about to go back in a high chair with a bib and sippy cup if he doesn't start paying more attention to what he is doing!

I truely believe that he is not making a mess intentionally but like you, I still make him sweep the floor as part of his after dinner chore.

[Anonymous]

7 year old still messy. Always stuff on the floor and table.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My 9 year old daughter is a messy eater, which is intriguing because her older brother is the one with ADHD and he's rather clumsy... but no, she's the messy one at the table!

No other siblings here. Have you found anything that has helped? I hope by 9, he isn't as messy as he is now.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

My 6-year-old DD is a mess when she eats. It doesn't get on her clothes so much, but all around her mouth. Honestly, i feel like my 2-year-old is neater. It seems a little weird to me that she still gets food on her face, but I can't really pinpoint the cause, other than just being a bit more aggressive when biting into her food. I'm not going to police how she bites (other than chew with your mouth closed), so we're emphasizing using the napkin to frequently wipe her mouth.

So, in my experience, not unusual.

[Anonymous]

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!