When I started Kitchen Titbits I was keen to find other people with an expertise which would complement my own. I know how I can best help my clients and followers and I know my limits, but I also understand that where my limits lie is not always where the challenges end.

That’s why, you’ll regularly see me collaborating with other people for courses and workshops, and bringing in experts to talk to my fussy eater course participants. 

It’s also why, once a month in each of my Facebook groups, I invite an expert in for a chat. 

On Monday, Madeleine Woolgar of Mums who Thrive came to talk to my Stress-free family mealtimes group about managing children’s overwhelm at Christmas. Christmas can be such a difficult time for children since there is usually a change to routine, different foods to the norm, an influx of visitors, a huge amount of excitement and a volume of presents to open. Children feel out of control and as a result their behaviour can be challenging.

Madeleine’s tips were so helpful that I wanted to share a couple of them with you all:

1. Give them some warning before you need them to do something. A 30, 20, 10 and 5 minute warning helps get them on side and prevents the tantrums when it’s time to stop what they’re doing.

2. Allow them some control over little things by offering them a choice of this or that. We’re going to the shop now, would you like to wear your blue coat or your red coat? This is a great one to apply with food too, for example, would you like an oatcake with peanut butter or a crumpet with cheese for snack?

If you’d like to watch the chat in full, pop along to my group.