When it's hard to sit down to eat
A short cartoon about a snack, a game and a chair that waits, starring your child. Watch it together at a calm time, then talk.
An example story beginning for this moment. It is not a cartoon of your own story.
Cartoons are made with AI. You preview each one before your child sees it. Automatic checks can miss things.
Let's imagine
Example, made with AI
Nia (6) carries her apple slices to her toy train track on the floor. Grandpa sits at the table and pats the chair beside him. "There's a spot for you and your apple." Nia keeps building. Grandpa slices an apple for himself and eats it, humming. Biscuit sniffs the floor by his feet. Nia looks up. She sets her last train car on the shelf and looks at the chair. Grandpa keeps humming.
The characters in this example are made up. Your child can be the hero, with or without a photo.
What happens in the story
In the example above:
- Nia takes her snack to her game, and Grandpa invites her to the table.
- He doesn't call, pull or bargain. He eats his own slice and enjoys it.
- Nia decides when. Her train track waits on the floor.
- In this example, Grandpa is at the table the whole time.
Talk-after card
Here are three gentle questions to talk about after this example. Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.
- Where did Nia take her snack? What did she build?
- What did Grandpa do while he waited?
- Where would you like to have a snack: at the table, on a picnic blanket, or somewhere else? You choose.
Use the ones that feel right. Skip any you like.
What a cartoon can and can't do
- Relaxed, repeated tasting is what builds acceptance. A cartoon can't do that for you.
- Watch together on a calm day, not at the table.
- Every family has its own pace.
- Each Zubby cartoon is made to be talked about together. It can't do the work of routine, patience or your child's doctor.
- If you are worried about your child's sleep, eating, fears or behavior, talk to your child's doctor, nurse or teacher.