Thank you for raising an important issue effecting some young children and their families. As a former Director of several Early Childhood Education Centers and the leader of the Early Childhood Education Program for large organizations and local government, I also had this experience. What I found helpful in resolving the issue, if possible, are as follows:
- I always check the Child's Health form first to make sure the Health Care Provider hasn't recorded any issues related to diet, weight or special concerns regarding the health of the child.
- If the Health form has no information in the first item, then I met with the family and listened to them describe their child's eating habits at home and what foods their child eats at home. We also discussed the child's eating habits. I then asked if the family would record what their child ate when not at the Center for a week and then we got together again to review what the child ate during the week to see the variety of the foods the child ate and if there were any issues with the child's eating habits.
- Next, I would make sure the family received the Monthly Menu of the meals and snack served at the Center and asked if the family would try to serve as many of the items on the menu to the child at home, as possible.
If none of these strategies worked, I asked the family if they would be willing to bring in the meals and snack for their child and, whenever possible, have a family member join the child for meals and a snack while at the Center. Sometimes, over time, the child ate what we served as a result of subtle peer pressure.
I wish you all the best in resolving this issue.
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Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
Better Futures LLC
Senior Consultant
Washington, DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-09-2019 09:26 AM
From: Gina James
Subject: A child who does not eat or drink
Hi Roberta,
I have never had the same experience, but I can only imagine that he is getting enough to sustain him on the days he is not in school. If he is active and happy during other parts of the day one can only assume his is getting what he needs at other times. Also, he would have to visit the doctor at least annually for a check up at which time I think his weight gain or lack of it would alert the pediatrician. Could this be his way of controlling what he can control as he probably does not really want to be there and still needs time to adjust and separate. He is quite young. Do you have access to his medical records? Does he show significant weight loss? Is there a school nurse who can intervene? Has the school director been advised as to the situation? These are just some questions for consideration. I do think it is wise to continue to maintain contact with the parents about this issue or even keep a journal or some other form of documentation regarding this situation.
Good Luck,
Gina James
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Gina James
Teacher
NYCDOE
Williston Pk NY
Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2019 12:37 AM
From: Roberta Wright
Subject: A child who does not eat or drink
I have been a family home child care provider for over forty years. In all these years I have had children who are extremely picky eaters but this is the first time I have had a child who does not eat or drink all day long. At first I though it was because this is a new environment. Then I thought it might be culturally relevant...we weren't serving familiar foods. I have had several meetings with the parents and they both say he is very picky at home as well. At home he eats berries, watermelon, McDonalds chicken nuggets, string cheese, crackers and chocolate milk. He is the fourth child in the family and the only child of these two parents. I am very concern. We can't even get him to drink water. I have the parents sending his lunch and serve the food according to their instructions. We have sat him with the group and sat him separately with a staff member. Usually he tells us at lunch time that he doesn't want to eat and he wants to go to his bed. If we let him go he doesn't fall asleep immediately. Usually lays there and watches the other children. He separates hard from his parents but once they are gone, he's a different child, happy and glad to be here. He has friends here...calls them his buddies. He is a 38 months old. The parents are not inclined to take him to the doctor. He looks healthy enough although he is little. He maybe has one diaper change for all day. He attends three days a week from 830 to 530. He started the middle of July. Please also note that we have tried to downplay his eating issues. We don't make a big deal of this but I feel that there is something wrong. This is not normal behavior to not be hungry or thirsty. Any advise would be sorely appreciated.
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Roberta Wright
owner
The Wright Child Care & Preschool
University Place WA
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