When your child won't stop throwing food with Sarah S

Sarah's 2 and a half year old daughter won't stop throwing food at meal time. Sarah is finding that she is escalating the situation because she ends up yelling and then dealing with a crying toddler. If you're struggling with a defiant toddler and you're constantly cleaning up food from the floor, listen in for some strategies to set boundaries while allowing your child some control.    This week on The Parenting Mentor:   General statements and empowering language that will define boundaries and reinforce rules around meal time.  Focusing on your one goal with your child and being okay with letting go of perfection.  Empowering language that reminds your child that you are on their team and it's not a fight.  Tangible strategies to teach your kids about concepts like hunger and incorporating games for them to express themselves without making a mess of the food.    "She knows if I choose not to eat I may be uncomfortable. If I choose to throw food I'm not going to eat. So giving her the power. And you're not angry, you're not yelling. When she throws the food, you're like oh I can see you don't want to eat now, honey. It's not like "OK I'M TAKING THE FOOD AWAY" There's nothing punitive. It's just the way it is." - Sue Groner   Meet the Parenting Mentor If you want to reduce the everyday stress and anxiety that inevitably come with parenting and learn to be a happier and more relaxed parent, then this is the place for you. Here, you can listen in on real sessions with parents who open up about the specific challenges they face with children from 2 to 22. Listen along and gain perspectives and strategies to help you parent with sanity and joy. Visit theparentingmentor.com for notes on this show, more episodes, and all the ways to subscribe, and don't forget to pick up my book, Parenting with Sanity and Joy: 101 Simple Strategies, which includes my Nine Golden Rules of Parenting. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts! Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts