Motivating a Food-Motivated Child

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My littlest one loves to eat.

She loves to eat and isn't too picky either.

She is highly motivated by food.

She will pick candy over any other treat or prize. When we go to chuck-e-cheese, she could have 300 tickets and she will spend them all on candy, not a single other thing.

But, the "experts" all say not to use food as a reward. Now, I am not one to follow what the "experts" say on everything, but I am one who struggles with her weight, so my kids are going to be prone to that too, and I will do what I can to help them not have those struggles. We limit candy in this house (they get one piece per day as their dessert, and occasional treats when given by others like at school or the doctor), mostly because my oldest gets sick if she eats too much.

But here is the dilemma. The little one will do just about anything for a candy. Sometimes, when discipline does not work with her, offering her a reward of an M&M for good behavior does. Nothing but candy treats worked for potty training. She could have cared less about stickers, trinket toys, praise, etc. She just wanted the treat.

My hubby spends less time reading "experts" than I do, and he has offered her rewards (food rewards) for some things. And the thing is, often it works. She is very sad if she looses her candy treat.

So what's a mom to do? I don't want my kid to struggle with being overweight, but there are some things, like the naptime battle, where we are really struggling to find what works with her! Treats work. But offering treats as a reward is a parenting no-no. This mommy is torn!

Comments

laugavitz said…
well i do not know what to tell u, b/c we have the exact same problem. I will have to watch your posts to see if anyone has advice for me. Although sometimes "princess," things work...like a call to a certain princess.
April 27, 2011 at 6:57 PM
Anonymous said…
I have tried to comment to this a couple of times and am failing. But I just want to say you need to use whatever works for each child. Think about what the 'experts' have told us over the years. The experts and been responsible for nearly 2 generations being raised without discipline and look where that has got us.

Do what you need to do to motivate Miss M- and any children in the future, just be responsible and use moderation.

I love you
MOM
April 29, 2011 at 6:05 AM
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