Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>I Dread Lunchtime
Tdhmom 09:41 AM 10-29-2013
Every single day I ask everyone "if you need to potty please do it now before we sit down for lunch." And every single day 5 min after sitting down, one person starts the chain reaction "I need to potty". And then 4 more chime in how they need to potty. So I have to make sure all 5 kids go without playing with the roll of toilet paper (happened one too many times!) and make sure they all 5 wash their hands. So now lunch time which is also quiet time that SHOULD last 15-20 min turns into 30 of everyone talking over the other so the noise just escalates cause I'm not in the room! Ugh I DO NOT LIKE LUNCH TIME!!!!!!!
daycarediva 09:46 AM 10-29-2013
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second." 
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Tdhmom 09:48 AM 10-29-2013
Originally Posted by daycarediva:
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Definitely doing this tomorrow! Thanks!Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
butterfly 09:52 AM 10-29-2013
Originally Posted by daycarediva:
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
That's how I do it too. I have to have the kids wash their hands with running water before meals anyways, so it's just as easy to have the kids potty first and then wash their hands.
lovemykidstoo 09:53 AM 10-29-2013
I have them all go before too.
Soccermom 10:03 AM 10-29-2013
I also change all diapers and have everyone go potty and wash their hands before lunch.
I have a no getting up from your chairs rule during meals too and I enforce it. If they get up from their chairs without permission it means they are done and I remove their food. I also don't tolerate loudness and hyperactivity during meals. (I am so afraid they will choke). I sit right at the table with them during meals and I find it keeps them more calm. We talk about our morning or what we are going to do this afternoon.
I will also move a child who isn't listening or following the rules to the craft table to eat.
I am strict but it makes things so much easier because I used to hate mealtimes too!
I have a no getting up from your chairs rule during meals too and I enforce it. If they get up from their chairs without permission it means they are done and I remove their food. I also don't tolerate loudness and hyperactivity during meals. (I am so afraid they will choke). I sit right at the table with them during meals and I find it keeps them more calm. We talk about our morning or what we are going to do this afternoon.
I will also move a child who isn't listening or following the rules to the craft table to eat.
I am strict but it makes things so much easier because I used to hate mealtimes too!
My3cents 11:28 AM 10-29-2013
Originally Posted by daycarediva:
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
My3cents 11:33 AM 10-29-2013
Originally Posted by Soccermom:
I also change all diapers and have everyone go potty and wash their hands before lunch.
I have a no getting up from your chairs rule during meals too and I enforce it. If they get up from their chairs without permission it means they are done and I remove their food. I also don't tolerate loudness and hyperactivity during meals. (I am so afraid they will choke). I sit right at the table with them during meals and I find it keeps them more calm. We talk about our morning or what we are going to do this afternoon.
I will also move a child who isn't listening or following the rules to the craft table to eat.
I am strict but it makes things so much easier because I used to hate mealtimes too!
I too have a no getting up rule, because if I let one up to play when done, everyone would be done eating.I also change all diapers and have everyone go potty and wash their hands before lunch.
I have a no getting up from your chairs rule during meals too and I enforce it. If they get up from their chairs without permission it means they are done and I remove their food. I also don't tolerate loudness and hyperactivity during meals. (I am so afraid they will choke). I sit right at the table with them during meals and I find it keeps them more calm. We talk about our morning or what we are going to do this afternoon.
I will also move a child who isn't listening or following the rules to the craft table to eat.
I am strict but it makes things so much easier because I used to hate mealtimes too!
blessed mom 01:57 PM 10-29-2013
I change diapers and have everyone potty and wash hands before we eat. If nothing comes out no biggie but nine times out of ten...surprise...you had to go! 
Lkurtyak 08:10 PM 10-29-2013
My kids are mostly in diapers, the problem I have at lunch time is while I am cooking as fast as I can, they yell I want food, I want milk, I want this or that... then the others chime in. I have provided toys, I've tried to get them to color at the table while I cook, but nothing seems to work.
JoseyJo 08:23 PM 10-29-2013
Originally Posted by Lkurtyak:
My kids are mostly in diapers, the problem I have at lunch time is while I am cooking as fast as I can, they yell I want food, I want milk, I want this or that... then the others chime in. I have provided toys, I've tried to get them to color at the table while I cook, but nothing seems to work.
Ohhhh! I wouldn't have that! I respond to "I want" demands with "Well I want lots of things but I don't usually get them when I ask rudely."My kids are mostly in diapers, the problem I have at lunch time is while I am cooking as fast as I can, they yell I want food, I want milk, I want this or that... then the others chime in. I have provided toys, I've tried to get them to color at the table while I cook, but nothing seems to work.
I let mine play while I cook, but if they cannot play nicely then they sit at the table, no chances.
blandino 08:45 PM 10-29-2013
I make everyone go before. They aren't allowed to get up until after lunch OR they can get up and go but that means they are done with lunch and will need to go to their mat and have quiet time after they go potty (everyone leaves the table and goes straight to their mat - so they are just going sooner). Normally, that is enough to make them remember they don't actually have to go.
coolconfidentme 03:55 AM 10-30-2013
Originally Posted by daycarediva:
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Easy fix, tomorrow they all go potty before lunch. Don't ask, tell. "We are all going to use the potty and wash hands before lunch. Susie will go first and then she will chose a friend to go second."
Mine TRY the same thing, but since we JUST went, I remind them that they can wait to try again in a little while.
Lkurtyak 05:00 AM 10-30-2013
Originally Posted by JoseyJo:
Ohhhh! I wouldn't have that! I respond to "I want" demands with "Well I want lots of things but I don't usually get them when I ask rudely."
I let mine play while I cook, but if they cannot play nicely then they sit at the table, no chances.
That hasn't worked so far, they're all 2 and under, and I think they mostly just like hearing their own voices more than they actually want anything. They prefer to sit at the table rather than play too, lol. Yesterday I tried making them go and play in the foyer where I have an upstairs play area set up for when I cook, and they all had melt downs which just became more hysterical the more the others cried. They were all pretty tired though, and slept 3 hours after lunch was done. Its incredible what a difference it is when I have someone helping me during that time.Ohhhh! I wouldn't have that! I respond to "I want" demands with "Well I want lots of things but I don't usually get them when I ask rudely."
I let mine play while I cook, but if they cannot play nicely then they sit at the table, no chances.
blessed mom 06:55 AM 10-30-2013
Originally Posted by Lkurtyak:
My kids are mostly in diapers, the problem I have at lunch time is while I am cooking as fast as I can, they yell I want food, I want milk, I want this or that... then the others chime in. I have provided toys, I've tried to get them to color at the table while I cook, but nothing seems to work.
If mine are having a real hard time I will put on a short educational video. This way they are learning something and it's safer because I can keep my eyes on all of them while I get lunch ready.My kids are mostly in diapers, the problem I have at lunch time is while I am cooking as fast as I can, they yell I want food, I want milk, I want this or that... then the others chime in. I have provided toys, I've tried to get them to color at the table while I cook, but nothing seems to work.