Appetite, we have all experienced it. Even now as I write this section, my mind drifts to the pleasant memory of last night’s din­ner. There is a tempting slice of pizza left over and while I realize that I’m not really hungry, my memory tells me that the taste of mozzarella is something I would really enjoy, even though I had breakfast an hour ago. So how is it that our tummy says “No” to food, but our pleasure senses scream, “Bring it on”? That’s what appetite does. Appetite does not respond to need but to want. It’s a pleasure sensation, triggered by the sight, smell and memory of the plea­sure of food.

Unfortunately, we tend to interchange the words, hunger and appetite as if they mean the same thing. They don’t because they are two completely different biological processes. Hunger is a physical sensation. It is a response caused by a drop in blood sugar, which in turn sends a message to the brain calling for more food. Appetite on the other hand, is external and driven by desire, regardless of actual need.

How does this apply to toddlers and mealtime? If you’re the type of mother who is concerned that your child will not get enough food, there is a tendency to allow the child’s appetite to control what you serve rather than his actual hunger. You place scrambled eggs in front of your two-year-old, who rejects them outright — even though they were fine yesterday. So you ask, “Would you like toast instead?” When your toddler hesitates, you then say, “Okay, how about toast with a little jam on it?”

Wait! Who is in control here? Is it Mom or the child’s appetite? There will always be a time for fun foods, but when they are served to the point that Mom is no longer making the food decisions, then she fosters an unwelcome mealtime habit — the unpredictable spirit of the ‘picky eater’.

Because the health and safety of children is a big concern for parents, one simple way to keep your toddler safe in parking lots, or anywhere else when Mom’s attention is divided, is to direct your child to place his hand on the car. Using the phrase “hands on car” provides a concrete meaning to “don’t move” and is much more effective than Mom constantly repeating, “stay close to the car”, “stand still” or “stop”.

To facilitate the learning process and to make it fun for the child, you may consider placing a sticker of their favorite charac­ter such as Elmo, Pooh Bear, or Thomas the Train on the car, and then direct your son or daughter to place their hand on the sticker. We suggest you begin this training by practicing at home, in the safety of your own driveway.

“Hands on car” is another form of self-control and one that can be easily trans­ferred to other venues where you need your child to be still and safe. “Hands on the shopping cart”, “Hands on the counter” and “Hands on Mommy”, are all simple phrases your toddler can understand and obey. The small investment of time you put into this training can pay big dividends when it comes to the health and safety of your child.

Watching a wide-eyed toddler smile as Dad gently blows the tuft of silky hair of spring’s last dandelion heavenward and then, seeing the spontaneous clapping of little hands, bears witness to the amazing reservoir of joy he has and gives. A toddler takes his mother’s hand and pulls her toward the toy box because he remembers the pleasure of yesterday’s play and wants to share another similar moment. When little hands pull a face close to touch noses or plant a kiss, a world of turmoil comes under the spell of a toddler’s love. Toddlers have a unique and powerful persuasive­ness about them. They enjoy a time of innocence and play, when the joy of one discovery simply melts into the next and when every waking moment has a new adventure waiting just around the corner. The second year of life is an amazing, spontaneous, engaging, yet challenging time for child. Because his mind is driven by curiosity and a tendency to try and rule the world with a smile or a scream, it becomes essential to consider the many influence shaping his life.

Over the next several post, we will take up a number of topics specifically targeting the wonderful world of toddlers and how Moms and Dads can keep their little person safe, on track developmentally, and pointed in the ‘way he should go’. Enjoy.

The new Toddlerhood Transition workbooks are now in the GFI warehouse and available for classes. The introductory price is $10.95. The introductory price for the newly released nine-part Toddlerhood Transition DVD series with two workbooks is $99.95 (The introductory sale is good through January 31, 2010. Save an additional five percent by ordering on line.)

We’re also in the process of revamping the GFI Leader’s Place. This is where leaders and facilitators can go to find additional class ideas, handouts, charts, forms, video run times, session summaries and sample clips from each of the nine Toddlerhood sessions. Do you have a question relating to the course work or from a student that you would like some help with or a second opinion? Our ministry support staff is available to leaders and would like to help. We’ll do everything we can to provide a timely and concise answer. Enjoy the New Year and your new ‘Toddlerhood Transition’ class.

December 12, 2009

Although the 2009 ‘Winter sale’ is over, the two family resources highlighted during the Christmas season continue to offer some great family values. We will continue to promote both over the next couple of weeks. First, there is the Mom’s Notes bookstore. We personally believe this is the best “little bookstore” on the Worldwide Web for at least two reasons. First, each book is reviewed for compatibility with the GFI curriculum and moral philosophy. That means you will not have to worry about any inappropriate content passing in front of the eyes of your children. Second, it provides a wide range of spiritual resources for all ages, from devotional books for your toddler to spiritual-life reading for Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa. Books always make a great gift.

Our second site is not tied to the GFI ministry per se, although it is very much tied to our hearts. Martin Chalk is a Growing Kids’ Dad, friend and more influentially, the worship leader at our church. His music is heard in churches all over the world. For us, each service is like going to a full ‘concert’ of praise and worship. His newest CD, ‘Always’ is now available.We know styles of music are a matter of personal preference and we respect different taste in styles, but for the Ezzos, Martin puts it all together beautifully. Visit Martin Here. www.MartinChalk.com

The Potty Training 1-2-3 book by Gary Ezzo and Anne Marie Ezzo now has a new 30-minute companion video in high definition (HD).  The full video is available for free online viewing.  Beginning December 15 the video will also be available in DVD format from GFI.org.

Drop by the Potty Training 1-2-3 page to read an awesome testimony.  You will find links to the online version of the full-length Potty Training 1-2-3 video and a link to GFI.org where you can order a copy of the new video on DVD.