Do you expect your kids to ask for food....

My child is nearly eleven and I expect to be asked just so he doesn't get into the habit of grabbing food whenever or spoiling appetite before dinner. Most times I say yes anyway but if a child can grab food at will some would constantly be snacking.

ska_lover wrote: »

This question brings anxieties for me as I remember this like yesterday in my own childhood. Food and even drink was used as control in our house and it gave life time issues to me and my siblings

Using access to food and drink as a power trip and as a means of control over children is a very different thing to what most people are discussing.

As I said earlier, in our house it was more "Is it okay to have x" (in case it was needed for something else) rather than "Am I allowed x".

My children (8 and 6) always ask too. The answer is more often than not, yes, but I like to know what's in the house and make sure they don't eat stuff that is meant for their lunchboxes.

A few months ago, they annoyed me when I found an empty box of Pringles in the garden. I asked them about it and they said they "forgot" to ask me.

Even when I go to Mum's now, I ask if I can have something. They've never said no, but I ask just so they know I've eaten it as it's annoying looking forward to your evening snack (or whatever) only to find it eaten and the shops shut!

ska_lover wrote: »

I never said it was the same, it's unhealthy - I am not sure why you are reiterating your earlier post, I wasn't aiming anything at you (or anyone else)...I was just telling my own experience. I apologise that my experience is different to yours - it sounds your way is far more healthy

I don't see why you feel any need to apologise - like most things, there's a wide spectrum from the very controlling method like your parents used to a total take-what-you-want that other parents allow.