When my kids were little, dinner times were sometimes trying. They were often tired from a long day along with being hungry: resulting in some “yucks”, “wiping hands on shirts, and the like . My kids have always learned much better through play rather than “lecture” or “nagging” (and my hubby loves to play) so I was in search of some fun way to tackle this problem. So, here’s a game our family did with my two older kids when they were 4 and 6years old.
Switch Seats Night
Okay, I doubt if your family has “official” assigned seats but everyone probably sits in the same seat. So, what you are going to do is have a Switch Seats Night. Here are the “rules”.
1. You must have the same number of adults and kids.
2. No one can sit in their usual dining seat.
3. Adults switch seats with kids and visa versa…no kids switching with kids nor adults switching with adults.
4. You must act like the person whose seat you are sitting in for the entire meal.
It’s amazing how much fun this is and also just how much you will learn about yourself along with getting the point across to your kids.
My older son used to live on air when he was little which made him incredibly picky. (For those of you with picky eaters, he’s now 6’2″ and will eat anything and everything so don’t fret). Anyway, I’ll never forget one switch seat night when he and my husband switched seats. The dialogue went something like
Dad: In a very animated and exaggerated voice, “Ew, Yuck!! I’m not going to eat this! It looks funny! I don’t like it! It’s yucky! The food is touching!”
3 year old Son: In a very caring yet firm voice, while wagging his finger, “You can’t say yuck until you try it. You may like it if you try it”
I had the hardest time trying not to laugh. This went on throughout the entire dinner….and my picky son actually ate food he normally said was yucky to show his dad that if he tried his food he might like it!
Try it….you’ll have fun and you just might learn something about yourself as well!
4you
momto8
haha i can just imagine the reaction this would get!! sounds kind of fun!! thanks for the new idea!!
Betsy @ Romance on a Dime
Hahaha – that’s so funny. That would have been great to see. I like how your son actually ate the food that night.
Thanks for linking up to the Take it on Tuesday blog hop! I’m pinning this.
Anne @ Domesblissity
So have you got a hidden camera in my house Marilyn? LOL This would be so much fun. My ‘string bean’ is skinny and tall and lives on fresh air. I couldn’t believe tonight. She ate brocolli and carrot without saying a word. I’ve had 5 years of hell with her eating habits. I won’t worry anymore. I’m going to try this game. A great idea.
Anne xx
Barb @ A Life in Balance
I LOVE this idea! With 5 kids, we have such a wide range of reactions. I think it would be fun to do this with our kids though one kid might be a bit sensitive about how he’s portrayed. I might have to follow up the game with a really good dessert.
Terry
Great idea, though I might be afraid of what would come up, lol. Thanks for sharing at our party today.
Jill @Two Yellow Birds Decor
This is such an awesome idea!! I love it! Thanks for sharing at Thursday’s Temptation.
Jill
Melanie @ bear rabbit bear
Neat idea! Thanks for sharing! Happy to have you at Things I’ve Done Thursday!! http://www.bearrabbitbear.com
Alesha
LOVED this idea! Such a cute story about your son!
Alesha <3
http://tobless.blogspot.com/
Four Marrs and One Venus
OMG! I LOVE this idea! How fun is this!!! My kids would get a total Kick out of this! I am SOOOOO Doing this! Thank you for the idea!
Just Jaime
haha this looks really fun! I would have loved to have done this as a kid! I’ll have to remember this in the future!
Chatty Chics
Hilarious! How cute that your 3 year old said that! Love it! Thanks for sharing with my group!
Melody
Natural-Nesters
Hey we just love this game so much! Thanks so much for linking up to our Naturally-Nifty Party! I wanted to let you know that you are a featured blog over at our party this week! Stop by and check it out and link up some more great stuff! Thanks!
**Also pick up a featured button while you are there!**
http://natural-nester.blogspot.com/2012/02/naturally-nifty-linky-party-4.html
Emily @ 52 Mantels
What a fun idea!! I love it! I can’t wait for my daughter to be a bit older
Thanks so much for linking up last week!
Noreen
Cute idea! And kids love the chance to be able to turn the tables on their parents!
golf driver
My parents taught me the right way, as i should to my kids.
John Decker
This is a great article, I am very glad I came across it. This is such a clever game for kids to do at the dinner table. I have been trying to teach my boys table manners for a while but they just don’t seem to be getting the point. I try to reward them by letting them play our classic arcade machines in the basement. However, this seems like a really good idea and I can not wait to try it.