A: Your children should be responsible for getting themselves to meals on time. If you serve meals at a set time, as you mentioned, it is doubtful they forgot the time. Explain to them that you will only call them to the table once the meal is served. It will be up to them to decide if they will come and eat. If they are going to be away from home, remind them what time the meal will be served and that they will be responsible for checking on the time. If they arrive late, and the meal is still being served, they can still eat. They will have to eat the food cold, unless they wish to reheat the food themselves. Explain you do not intend to get up from the table until you are finished with your meal. If they arrived after the meal is over, they will have to wait until the next meal and experience the natural consequences of hunger. In most cases, however, a child who skips a meal won't starve, and it won't harm them unless a medical condition does not allow for this. They may be really hungry, though.

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