Unfortunately, I don't let him color often because the project always concludes with a tantrum because John is so insistent on coloring the furniture. If he is coloring, I have to sit with him the entire time, speaking on an endless loop of, "Color only on the paper. Do not color on furniture," then physically redirecting him at every single endless attempt. Ultimately, I always have to confiscate the crayons, which results in a giant tantrum.
Imagination. This morning I saw John using his graham cracker coated in peanut butter as a car. He was driving it all over the kitchen counter saying, "vroom! vroom!"
MORE. My friend Janeane's daughter learned MORE as her first sign, I think, when she was under a year old. John has had so much trouble learning that one, I thought because it was abstract. I always encouraged him to ask for MORE servings of food, but that didn't work. Now I think my problem was motivation. John is a picky eater. But he is a fiend for vestibular stimulation. This is the baby who from newborn to age ten months (when he learned how to walk) didn't let me stop moving or sit down ever. A few days ago, we were spinning him in an office chair and I asked him to sign for MORE. Suddenly, John got it! He kept signing for MORE MORE MORE! He's been using MORE ever since, including for food and television. Proper motivation was all he needed.
Discerning Palate. Yesterday I hatched the brilliant scheme to trick John into eating banana. The boy loves peanut butter, so I mashed some banana and mixed it about 40% banana, 60% PB, then spread it on a cracker. John did not see me preparing the concoction, nor did it look different than usual. But he took one bite, then began crying and handing the cracker back to me, not calming down until I took the cracker away. And we've discovered that the way to ensure he will refuse to eat any of our ice cream--which he usually loves--is to buy any fruit flavor, such as strawberry ice cream. I'm amazed that he will revolt at a fruit flavor even of a fruit he's never tried or seen before. How does he know? Is he allergic to fructose? What is it?! (People have pointed out that vegetables and protein are more important than fruit and I do know that. I just have a mild obsession with fruit because John's hatred of it is so senseless. What kid doesn't like fruit?)
About fruit: I wonder if you went strawberry picking and ate while you picked if he would like it better? I'm at as much a loss as you.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of the box as an artwork mat.
John is as cute as ever.
Ashley
The drawing is SO cute!!!
ReplyDeleteI had to hide the crayons from Emma for a few months because she was drawing on everything (plus, CHEWING on the them). I finally just brought them back out a few weeks ago, and she's much better with them. Although, I was surprised by a "pretty" drawing on my bedroom wall the other evening...thank God for washable Crayolas now.
Yes, "more" was her first sign. So glad John is using it now...it really helps A LOT, and it eliminates so much whining.
I have to laugh at your son--he is too smart for your own good, I think, figuring out that you tried to masquerade a banana as peanut butter! Shame on you for perpetrating such a falsehood on that boy! ;-)
ReplyDeleteJohn is so cute!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the fruit problem. If I think of anything or run across any suggestions, I'll let you know!
Mariah
Katherine,
ReplyDeleteWill he eat baked goods with fruit flavors, such as banana bread? I have a great recipe for banana bars which are more of a cake texture. There is also a cookbook out there called, Stealth Health by Evelyn Tribole which I used quite a lot to get my kids to eat other things. It is based on disguising things, such as you tried with the peanut butter, but in different recipes to optimize the nutrition. I don't know if they have any fruit recipes for his discerning palate but if you are interested I could look for you. Does he like jelly or jam? Maybe try introducing different flavors of jelly (no fruit bits) then introduce the ones with the fruits in them, then go for the fruits themselves?
But, as you mentioned, fruit isn't necessary...does he like juice? This would drive me batty as well. Although it isn't necessary, I like to see children eat a large variety of foods and not be fussy so like you, I would keep plugging away at it. Isn't it funny how they can tell when you are trying to pull a fast one?
Lily: No, John will not eat juice or jam/jelly. He does liked baked goods, but when I review the recipes, it just doesn't seem worth it to me to get a tablespoon of fruit into him with several tablespoons of refined sugar. :( And if the baked good lacked the sugar, John wouldn't eat it.
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