Exposure

When I taught elementary school, it was a known fact that kids who had more exposure to books and print as little tykes excelled more when it came to learning to read. It's one of the rules of learning anything: a person needs lots of exposure and positive chances to experience anything that is worthy of learning. Parents know this too: when a child learns to ride a bike, potty train, etc. it takes lots and lots of practice! Watching my toddler repetitively do the same task reminds me of this.

Children also learn by what they hear, or overhear. It always made me cringe as a teacher to hear a parent comment that their child "just wasn't good at math" repetitively. That's a major learning experience, too, and one that children tend to believe.

What's really interesting is that for some reason, totally well-meaning parents don't always remember these things when it comes to food and eating. Maybe it's because we have to work so hard to prepare nutritious foods that are flung off the high chair, and maybe it's because we believe that taste is ingrained. Maybe it's because we didn't like certain foods, or still don't. Either way, it's important to remember that our attitudes teach our kids. Food, and eating, take many exposures and chances too!

Case in point: A child might reject broccoli the first time, and everyone decides that he just plain doesn't like it. Then, because the child hears his parents talk about Johnny not liking broccoli, he decides from then on, that will be true. Broccoli is never served again, nor are other green veggies for fear that he won't eat them. You can see how this made-up story would end... but it's not all that different from some adults I don't know who just "don't eat vegetables."

Or, the other side: A wise parent tries to incorporate yummy, healthy, colorful foods at every meal. Even when a box of mac and cheese is made, some peas or broccoli are thrown in with the mac the last few minutes. Sometimes it's rejected, sometimes it isn't. But it's always there. And nothing is ever commented on as being something one "doesn't like".... it's just enjoyed by the adults at the table if the child doesn't enjoy it.

Think of the difference in attitudes! I'm amazed in what a difference this makes. Sure, my kid still rejects food, but I'm a believer that parents who keep modeling what they'd like to see have kids who follow suit (well, at least some of the time) :). Expecting a child to love a food the first time is like expecting your baby to be attentive the first time you pull out a book instead of just chewing on it.

Food for thought!