If there is a tendency to lag, tell
them that if they do not come when called they will get nothing to eat
until next mealtime, and act accordingly. This is no cruelty, for no one
is harmed by missing a meal. It generally proves very effective.
At the table, serve the children what your experience has told you they
can take with benefit, without saying anything about it. If they ask for
anything else, give it if you think proper. If not, say no. If they
start to beg and whine, tell them that such conduct will result in their
being sent away from the table, and if they still continue, do as you
have said, and let there be no weakening. This may cause a few very
disagreeable experiences at first, but it is much better to have a few
of them and be through, than to continue year after year to have such
trouble. Some children can eat everything with apparent impunity and
their parents usually pay no attention to what they eat. But there are
others who become ill if they are improperly fed. Children who are often
feverish and take all the diseases peculiar to the young, are
maltreated. They are not properly fed. Those who are prone to
convulsions must be fed with great care, or there is danger of their
becoming epileptics.
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