Of course, no two children are alike, and there are many differences between children even in the same family. However, certain patterns have been noted. One is that a child swings in behavior every 6 months or so from well-balanced to unstable and difficult. Physical growth patterns also vary. A child will grow emotionally and physically faster at one time than at another.
Children vary greatly from one another, as well as individually from one age to another.
Despite these differences, however, some common generalizations can be made. Children like a fairly dependable daily routine, and that includes mealtime. Most children, because of limited capacity, want to eat more often than three times a day. Snacks are an important part of a child's food intake and should be small, nutritious meals. Far too many children are being given foods and drinks with a limited variety of nutrients and total food value.