Toddler Question: To Shanel

[Guest guest]

Hi Shanel,

 

I had a similar issue with my toddler when he was in his 2s and 3s and sometimes

even now (and he is 5)

our answer has been very consistent and although it didn't seem to work at

first, in a longer time it did.

 

Our answer has been

- We are vegetarians so we eat lots of veggie and grains but not meat (ie;

animals)

Why?

- don't want to eat animals, or

- We don't want to hurt animals. as they are our friends. and we don't hurt

friends. etc...

And don't freak out if he still says " i want to eat animal, i want to hurt them

etc... " as my son used to say all this in response... they don't mean it, they

don't even understand it.. they just say it for the sake of saying it.

one diff thing to answer is " well my friend x eats it. why can i not "   or " well

my friend x eats it. he is hurting animal "   or even when they go directly to the

person and ask why do you eat meat etc.

- our answer to it has been " if they do so, its up to their mom/dad to let them

do so.. in our house we don't "

its just like that boy is throwing tantrums but we don't

or that kid eat a lot of junk but we don't

or that kid doesn't have this toy but you have... so different families have

their yes and no and limits and we live by our rules they by theirs

..... at first this was very difficult to explain for us but over time he does

get it. now he rarely asks why he doesn't eat meat while his friends do.

Also knowing atleast one more veg kid helps.

 

 

--- On Sat, 5/9/09,

wrote:

 

Digest Number 2688

 

Saturday, May 9, 2009, 12:31 AM

 

There are 2 messages in this issue.

 

Topics in this digest:

 

1. Toddler Question:  To Shanel   

    Paige

 

2. new with questions   

    tesikohl

 

 

Messages

______________________

1. Toddler Question:  To Shanel

    Posted by: " Paige " gosstucker gosstucker

    Fri May 8, 2009 7:24 am ((PDT))

 

Shanel,

 

Hi, I am Paige.  I am living in L.A. right now with my husband and 6 year

old son, all vegans as well.  I have actually written a book targeting 3- 6

year olds and their parents that explains what vegan is in an age

appropriate way with an emphasis on eating a rainbow of colors in fruits and

veggies each day.  (I am working on the follow up for 6-8 year olds on why

we are vegan.)  The book is called a Rainbow a Day the Vegan Way and is

currently being illustrated.  If you want to email me offline at

gosstucker I could provide you with a soft copy in exchange

for feedback on if you/ your son like it and the commitment not to share it..

It should be out in August also, yea!!

 

Please send me a note if you want me to shoot it over. I would love to hear

if it helps/ my son loves it and is so confident about being vegan, knows

what it is, but is not judgmental at all of his friends who eat meat.. he

just says, " it's not for me " . and then tells his friends all of the great

things he eats instead.

 

Thanks,

Paige

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Newbie here from Northern California.

 

Silly question, but I don't know explain it in simple terms to my son. Can

you please assist me with the following:

 

My four year old son asked me why we don't eat chicken nuggets. I guess a

school friend asked him. When I answered to him that we are Vegans and we

only eat healthy food such as fruits, vegetables etc and that we don't eat

animals. He then said, but I don't like vegetables. I wasn't about to

explain that I try my best to cook yummy dishes, tasty enough for him to eat

and not question what vegetables are in it.

 

My concern is...I don't want for my son to come across as judgmental of

others if he says " I love animals " or " We don't eat animals " . I'm sure

non-veggie parents would complain.

 

I welcome your suggestions.

 

Thank you

Shanel