"There is no way for Gonzalo to sit at the table," confesses his mother. "He immediately gets distracted by something or wants to go play. The only way to finish the plate is to put on the cartoons. He concentrates so much that he takes spoonful after spoonful without complaining."
Is it a bad habit?
Yes it is. These little ones are still learning to eat and discovering food. If we turn on the TV, they will most likely become hypnotized and begin to chew and swallow mechanically.
And when a child stops thinking about the dish in front of him, he loses the sensation of eating and appreciates the flavors, textures, etc. to a lesser extent.
In reality, no child carries the habit of late eating in their genes. If they do it, it is because we have instilled it in them that way. And the fact is that, many times, the lack of time and the rush of everyday life force us to do so a little.
They associate TV and food
Our children mess around with food and it can take them an hour and a half to finish a small portion, and we, sometimes, don't have that much time. And even less so if you have to comply with the schedule of the day: after dinner it's bath time, then bedtime, etc.
Right now, giving him the drawings seems like the easiest way to make him wait calmly for us to prepare dinner and eat it more quickly. The problem is that they end up associating TV with meals.
What can we do?
Respect their times. We cannot expect a two-year-old to eat in ten or fifteen minutes, because maybe he needs half an hour. Looking for a quick fix or trying to get him to eat fast can be worse in the long run.
The idea is to change TV for dialogue and instill in them from a young age that food is a time to be with the family. Take advantage of these moments to spend a little with him and explain, for example, what you are eating. Thus, when he grows up it will be easier to establish this habit.
Toys aren't worth it either. We can't turn off the TV and distract him with a doll to get him to finish the peas. The Mickey Mouse movie doesn't matter or the Coco stuffed animal. There should be no stimuli at the table other than the food itself.
The Best Building Block Sets for Creative Kids and Adult Collectors
Building block toys continue to dominate the world of creative play, STEM learning, and collectible model building. Whether you enjoy detailed racing replicas, advanced engineering kits, or imaginative fantasy worlds, modern brick sets offer something for every age group. Enthusiasts looking for premium collections often start with the best-selling building block sets, where the most popular models showcase impressive craftsmanship and display value.
Explore Racing Cars, Supercars, and Vehicle Models
Car enthusiasts can discover stunning replicas inside the Miniso F1 collection, the high-speed supercars and racing cars collection, and detailed classic car building sets. Fans of realistic mechanics will also appreciate advanced technic models, premium technic building sets, and educational mechanical engineering sets.
Collectors who enjoy motorcycles and industrial vehicles can explore the motorcycle and bike sets alongside massive truck and construction vehicle sets. For interactive play, remote-controlled fans can browse both the remote control collection and the exciting remote control building sets.
Architecture, Ships, and Space Collections
Architectural enthusiasts often enjoy the elegant skyline designs from the modern skyscraper series and culturally inspired Chinese architecture sets. Builders who prefer compact creations can discover detailed micro block models perfect for desks and display shelves.
Nautical collectors can build historic vessels from the boats and ships collection, legendary pirate ship sets, and highly detailed Titanic model kits. Aviation fans can assemble realistic aircraft from the aircraft and jet collection, while science fiction lovers may prefer futuristic space station building sets.
Fantasy Worlds, Pop Culture, and Adult Building Sets
Creative builders searching for immersive display models should explore premium building sets for adults. Fantasy fans can recreate medieval adventures using the castle collection, while anime and entertainment lovers can enjoy themed cartoon and pop culture sets.
Urban enthusiasts can also discover stylish city-inspired models inside the Japanese street collection and premium licensed car building sets. Students and curious minds can further develop STEM skills with interactive science educational building sets.
Helpful Guides and Building Block Resources
Collectors frequently search for expert guides before purchasing new sets. Popular resources include advice on when Rivendell may retire, tutorials explaining how to change characters in Marvel Superheroes, and insights into how much the first LEGO set is worth.
Gamers and collectors can also learn whether LEGO Star Wars Skywalker Saga supports crossplay, discover how many villagers you can have in Fortnite, and understand how much insider points are worth.
Parents can also find family-friendly recommendations such as the best outdoor toys for 3 to 4 year olds, the best outdoor toys for 6 year olds, and pet-related guides covering the best toys for dogs with high prey drive and the best harnesses for poodles.
From advanced engineering models to collectible ships and fantasy castles, modern building block sets combine entertainment, creativity, and education into one rewarding hobby enjoyed by both children and adults worldwide.
