Are you worried about your children playing during eating? Trying to crush food by hand and smearing it on their desk, or spilling a drink and spreading it by hand. If this continues every day, you will definitely want to get angry, even if you know you shouldn't get angry. Therefore, this time, let's check the causes and remedies for children's play eating.What is play eating?Playing and eating for children means that the child starts playing while eating meals and snacks. Your kids can knead food (knead), mess up the contents of the plate (squash), or put food in a cup. they can even throw food and dishes on the floor or stand up on a chair. You can also see behaviors such as standing and walking while eating and coming to eat again. In terms of age, this behavior is common among children aged 8 months to 1 year old, who have active limb movements.Causes of play eatingBabies generally have a time to eat anything, including toys. By doing so, we teach kids judgments such as "this is edible, not edible". By the time your children reach the age of one, they will be able to see and judge, so they will be less likely to put anything in their mouth, and your kids will be able to judge food by making the most of their five senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste...For example, when you touch and crush food, you realize that "I squeezed it too hard this time. I have to squeeze it lighter next time." Even if it looks like your kids are just playing, they're learning well.It is said that most children start playing and eating around the age of one. This is also a sign of growth. However, even if it is said to be a proof of growth, you really want your kids to stop it. Here are some "how to deal with playful eating" that you can deal with without getting frustrated.How to deal with play eatingEven though it is an important growth process for children, it is difficult to clean up if the surroundings are polluted with each meal. You may be frustrated by ruining the food you cook.Let's take a look at the points to successfully survive the play-and-eat period.Let's create an environment that is easy to cleanThe most troublesome thing about playing and eating is cleaning after meals. It is a heavy burden to spend time cleaning and washing every time during busy childcare. Be prepared to keep your house dirty during the play-and-eat period, and think of ways to make cleaning easier. Just thinking "it's okay to get dirty" can greatly reduce the stress of dads and moms. Children should wear a large apron to keep their clothes clean. Place a leisure sheet or newspaper under the table to reduce the hassle of wiping.Decide the meal timeIf your kids play hard and spill all their food, you will be worried about malnutrition. However, it is counterproductive to keep eating forever or start eating early because you want them to eat a lot. If you want your children to eat well, decide the meal time properly. Eat at a fixed time every day and finish in about 20 minutes each time. Even if they still have food left, when your kids start playing and eating, it's time to finish. If you are told that they are hungry on the way, don't give too much snack. If your children are hungry, they will be looking forward to their next meal and their play will be settled.Don't force me to eat, I'll give it a try if I want toWhen your child starts to stand up or walk around, stop chasing them and feeding them. They will get into the habit of eating while playing. Also, avoid repeatedly recommending that your baby eat when it isn't the time. When the baby stands up during a meal or throws food and thinks "I have started playing", you should quietly say "I'll get rid of it when you play" and get rid of it. You don't have to be particularly angry or scolded.If you're kids are not full yet, they should reach out to the plate or point to someone else's plate to indicate that they want to eat more. If you want your kids to eat like that, let them sit down again and give them a plate to eat. And when the play and eating starts, you will clean it up. It takes patience, but by repeating this process, the baby will gradually learn that "sit when eating" and "do not eat when playing".Play eating is a process necessary for growth Let's reduce stress by taking measures!Many moms will feel "the limit!" When they play and eat with the rice they have made. However, if you think that it is a necessary course for growth, your view of play eating may change. If you take measures in advance so that it will be easier to clean up, you may be able to relax a little. Play eating doesn't last forever, so let's keep an eye on it in the long run.