We feel ya... 4 ways to get your child to SIT STILL at the table

You'd be forgiven for thinking that your child has ants in their pants, the way they jump around from chair to chair at the kitchen table.

And while it's great that they are full of energy – bouncy, hopping and shuffling from one foot to the other – most of us parents would prefer if they actually SAT down for dinner. 

Like on a chair. 

And ate their food.

But it doesn't have to always be like this; with our top four tips, your little one will be sitting still…at least for as long as there is food on their plate. 

1. Get them involved in meal prep

This is a sure-fire way to get them interested in what they are going to be eating, and actually want to eat. 

2. Check if their chair is suitable

So obvious that you never even thought about it? Well, if the chair is too low your child may feel like they can’t reach their food properly; if it's too high, their feet will end up dangling above the floor… and they'll automatically start swinging them. Pop a stool under the table for their feet to rest on. 

3. Let them pick where they sit

Simple but effective; kids love feeling like they are in control, and will embrace being given the option to do something. And if it's guaranteed to start a fight between siblings, why not do it in turns, with each child choosing their own seat every second evening?

4. Get them to run off their energy BEFORE dinner

Kids are an active bunch, full of energy and constantly wanting to be on the go – something you don't want to knock out of them. So, the best way is to encourage them to run off any pent up energy before you call them in for dinner. Try it and see what happens. 

Do you have a genius way of getting your kids to sit still? Share here and be in with a chance of winning €250.