Children who cannot feed themselves

PolishBigSpender

I was in the UK for a couple of days for a business trip.

So, I was in a shopping centre, when I decided to buy something to eat from the "food court". After having selected a meal, I sat down - and what do I see? I see someone actually feeding a child of 5-6 years old. The child was having the food not only cut for him, but also given to him - he appeared to be completely incapable of feeding himself. To make matters worse, he was also eating with his mouth OPEN.

Now, before anyone suggests that there was something wrong with the child - he was perfectly capable of drinking some awful sugar-laden drink from the bottle without spilling any.

My question is this - is this normal for British children? In Poland, you would never see a 5 year old being fed by his parents in such a way!

System

I think i had my food cut up for me till i was about 5ish, maybe longer for meat. Though i could feed myself by that age. I'm not sure how common this is but i have seen older children being fed too.

PolishBigSpender

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I think i had my food cut up for me till i was about 5ish, maybe longer for meat. Though i could feed myself by that age. I'm not sure how common this is but i have seen older children being fed too.

Older?!

Wow. What do they do at school?

Plans_all_plans

Remember some kids look a lot older than they are. My daughter is 3 nearly 4, but she could pass as a 5/6 year old easily as she is tall and articulate. I cut my daughter's food up for her regularly (particularly meat stuffs like pork that are a bit tricky) as we only give her a metal teaspoon and fork to eat with. Before she starts school fulltime in Sept we will introduce a metal knife.

ETA: she asks to be fed sometimes and depending on my mood I'll do it, but most of the time I tell her she's a big girl who can feed herself now. I must admit I'd be too embarrassed to feed her in public cos she looks so grown up!!

pinkclouds

I would say it is not typical and there were probably reasons for it that we cannot judge without knowing the background circumstances. Perhaps the child was ill (e.g. with a cold) and needed to be coaxed into eating. Moreover, if he had a cold then he might have a sore throat hence the need for fluids and eating gingerly with his mouth open.

Of course, perhaps he was just young for his age with terrible manners to boot. But we just do not know!

lauren_1

Just because he/she can drink from a juice bottle doesn't mean he's ok..babies can hold and drink from a bottle at 7 months but can they feed themselves? Not a chance.

meritaten

I think most children can feed themselves by the age of five if not earlier........they have to feed themselves in school anyway! but there could be any number of reasons the parent was actually feeding the child, the child may have been ill recently and was reluctant to eat or the child wasnt actually capable of using cutlery and to avoid embarrassment the parent fed him/her? anyway, its none of our business really is it? its not as if the child was being abused or anything!

PolishBigSpender

pinkclouds wrote: »

I would say it is not typical and there were probably reasons for it that we cannot judge without knowing the background circumstances. Perhaps the child was ill (e.g. with a cold) and needed to be coaxed into eating. Moreover, if he had a cold then he might have a sore throat hence the need for fluids and eating gingerly with his mouth open.

Nothing wrong with him from what I could observe - no blowing of the nose, no wiping the nose, nothing to suggest any sort of illness. He was also talking and behaving in a normal manner, so no sort of mental disability either. And as mentioned, there was nothing wrong with his dexterity.

And I'm certain the child was at least 5 - he had a school uniform on! What was especially shocking about all of this was the eating with the mouth open - this is such a cultural taboo for us, and I thought it was the same in England?

Counting_Pennies_2

I am sure there are all walks of life in all countries!

Shelley84

So you see one child doing this and think thats what all English people do?! Just because he didn't 'seem' ill to someone who knows nothing about him doesn't mean he wasn't. Maybe he just wanted to be fed that day? What is it to you?

As for the sugary drink, what if they were on a day out, are kids not allowed these drinks every now and then? Sometimes, god forbid, I take my son to McDonalds as a treat...quick call Social Services!

Rant over...

gunsandbanjos

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

What was especially shocking about all of this was the eating with the mouth open - this is such a cultural taboo for us, and I thought it was the same in England?

You better get used to it over here! It is one of my pet hates, it makes me feel ill if i see someone eating with their mouth open. Or speaking with their mouth full_pale_ Bleurgh. However it seems to be increasingly common.

I actually moved in a cafe as i was sitting facing a girl at another table who was eating a sandwich and was shovelling it in and chewing with her mouth wide open. Bits were falling out on to the table:eek: I couldn't eat my lunch with her in my line of sight:o I could hear her from about 10ft away.