Toddler wanting down from dinner table but...

twirlyjack73

he wants us to play.  So we always say you can either get down & play by yourself (which could be next to us or about 10 ft away in the living room which is next to our open kitchen); or that he can continue to sit with us at the table until we (me & DH) finish eating. Every nite it's the same struggle whereby he has a fit & we can't figure out how to handle him.  Does anyone have any advice?  He's very spirited.  The post on highchairs got me thinking about this problem.  He gave his up so much earlier than most -around 13 months.  He's also the kid that can't sit in a restaurant, not even for 3 minutes. Even if we take him outside until the food comes he can barely sit to eat for less than 5 minutes.  Which really is a problem when we're out doing chores & need to eat.  But anyway back to the question.  Help!!  TIA

mlamping

My dd does the same thing. We tried toys at the table and feeding her to speed things up. I give her dessert earlier so she sits at the table. She is most times ok with that. Sometimes she gets down. I guess I have no real advice, just try different things and see what works. I will be more sticked and say you have to sit at the table and not offer a choice. He will always pick play otherwise. 

 

Best of luck  

ncbelle

What's your goal?  To have him stay at the table?  To have him not pitch a fit?  What do you currently do when he gets angry?

In general we make the kids stay at the table for a while - maybe not the whole time DH and I are eating, but they can't just take a bite and run play.  We have family dinner time and all talk together so they have incentive to be a part of what's going on.  If DH and I are lingering, we don't expect the kids to sit.  But if they do want to be done, they have to entertain themselves.