My son has the HARDEST time at meal times. He either flips his chair backwards by leaning the front legs off the floor. Or he spills his milk by wiggling too much. He gets up constantly and can't stay seated. Anyone else have these issues?

(05-16-2012, 06:28 PM)jhughes0507 Wrote: My son has the HARDEST time at meal times. He either flips his chair backwards by leaning the front legs off the floor. Or he spills his milk by wiggling too much. He gets up constantly and can't stay seated. Anyone else have these issues?

I see this more with children in class rooms, when children are expected to sit in a chair for an extended period, or even stay in one place on the flloor - how old is your son? I've used a "cushion" with some success for wiggly kids, more like a big bean bag, filled with dried chickpeas or other bigg-ish, hard beans to either sit on or lay across the lap. It gives their bottom some support and stimulation I think that makes sitting still for a period easier.

Meal times are hard because there's also the social learning that comes with it - the manners (and part of that is sitting still and not playing with things) and the waiting. Perhaps you could also think about foods that give the stimulation that the wiggling might be a way of satisfying - really crunchy food is that's what he likes. My son liked lots of crunch but also intensity - sourness in particular. Perhaps too think about what happens before meals - deliberately do something that settles your son eg a go on the trampoline.

It's always trial and error with these kids!

My older son leans the chair, back or to the side, all the time. Younger son wiggles. Or sits with one knee bent, either under him, or up so that he rests his chin on his knee. Younger one prefers to eats with fingers rather than forks.

All this drives hubby batty.

We've tried wiggle seats with moderate success. Physical activity before is good.

There are a lot of good ideas in the book Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller. Heavy lifting before the meal comes to mind as one option or maybe a little safe roughhousing with Dad.

Ha ha LynnNBoys, my 5 yr old does all 3 at one sitting. He has a weighted lap mat that seems to help. He also kicks the table rhythmically which shakes any drinks on it. Am looking for a theraband to wrap round front legs of chair for him to twang with his feet therefor saving my table.

I know these things are annoying but when read they sound funny. How much energy do they use doing all these things. If I multi task I sometimes forget what I am doing. Not these cheeky monkeys.

(07-15-2012, 04:53 AM)Jaffa Wrote: Ha ha LynnNBoys, my 5 yr old does all 3 at one sitting. He has a weighted lap mat that seems to help. He also kicks the table rhythmically which shakes any drinks on it. Am looking for a theraband to wrap round front legs of chair for him to twang with his feet therefor saving my table.

I know these things are annoying but when read they sound funny. How much energy do they use doing all these things. If I multi task I sometimes forget what I am doing. Not these cheeky monkeys.

Thanks for making me laugh out loud!!

My 4 year old does this quite frequently. She is always taking a few bits of her food then she is up walking around. I have found that sitting literally right beside her seems to help. Usually, my kids ate at the kitchen bar counter because they wanted to watch TV. But after changing things a bit and sitting right beside her, she stopped walking around and leaning her chair. Didn't stop the wiggles, but it helped, well at least for us

I forgot to mention we purchased a chair with a foot step so she's sitting at the right height, and her feet are firmly on the step since they would not reach the floor in a regular chair. This has dramatically decreased her getting out of her chair during meal time.

I sit next to my son during almost every meal, and I have found that if I touch his arm or his leg intermittently he stays more relaxed. I have not figured out if he likes physical touch so much because of his sensory processing or because of his autism. He has always loved to be hugged or to lean against me or mom. At church he will sometimes get right up against me in the pew. I am sure that others must look at it and find it odd, but I have learned to just accept it. I am sure that one day I will actually miss him snuggling up next to me all the time.

My son also loves to get up from the table and take some food with him "on the go". Sometimes he says that he is all full, but "can you leave my food on my plate in case I want it for later, dad?" Then he will intermittently pop into the kitchen and take a bite here and there. We try to minimize that, but as long as he eats fairly well at the table before trying that routine, we don't push it too hard.

I agree with Jerry. Now that he mentions it, my daughter is also much better behaved and eats better at the table when someone sits right next to her so legs are touching. I never made that observation before. Thanks. If she had her way, though, she'd sit in daddy's lap to eat at every meal.