MentalHealthDaily

Preschoolers Say “I’m Full,” and Staff Usually Accept It

by GLOOM

MHD card showing a small plate with the fork and spoon placed together and a cup on a low wooden table in warm window light, with an "I'm full!" speech bubble and a small raised hand, illustrating a Swedish preschool study in which staff usually accepted children's fullness statements.

Children as young as 2 told preschool staff “I’m full” at well-timed moments during lunch, and staff usually took them at their word, according to a 2026 video study of 97 lunches at 4 Swedish preschools.1 Research Highlights 77 “I’m full” moments: 44 children aged 2 to 6 said they were full at least once, …