Positive Mealtime Language Hacks for Parents/Caregivers

Have you ever noticed how children (or partners, friends, co-workers, anyone) respond to our words? We could be sending the same directive, but it may be met with resistance when said as a "you" statement or with more cooperation when said with an "I" statement. Therapists teach this type of communication skill all the time and I think it is so valuable!⠀
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Here are some examples of how we might transform our "you" statements at mealtime to "I" statements:⠀

It's all about taking the attention off of the YOU command and making the language more positive, which elicits less defensiveness.⠀
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If you try this out with the little people in your life, let me know what you notice! What other positive language spins work well for you? ⠀
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