How to Conquer Feeding Issues at Daycare

Many parents and caretakers face the issue of feeding while at daycare or in another person's care. These issues can range from just picky eaters or special needs children who have feeding issues like allergies or intolerances. Below are steps to assist parents and caretakers in overcoming eating hurdles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know what each child can safely eat. Many children are lactose intolerant, which means that they can't properly digest milk or milk products. You will need an alternative for these children, so keep that in mind when creating your daycare menus.

2. Access a child's reason for not eating. Determine whether the child is not eating because she does not like the foods you are serving, whether the foods are new to her or whether the foods appear are odd to her.

3. Use creative thinking to overcome a child's eating objections. Consider that a child may have a food jag. A food jag occurs when a child is testing his independence. Children often refuse to eat foods that they have previously eaten and enjoyed.

4. Make a game and talk about different kinds of foods. Find out what the children like and dislike and why they like or dislike particular foods. With younger children, offer a variety of foods and chart foods they seem to enjoy and foods they appear to dislike.

5. Allow children to feel independent with eating. Children require a higher amount of nutrients than adults do, and they often have a higher level of activity than adults. Therefore, it is natural to assume that they may need to eat more often. Just like adults, children have the ability to feel when they are hungry and when they are not. It is best to offer five or six small meals a day and allow children to eat when they are hungry.

6. Get parents involved. You can ask the parents to pack snacks or meals that they know their child will eat. You can also ask for suggestions from the parents for planning your meals.