View source for Benjy details for sitters

<noinclude>
==Navigation==
{{kid details navigation|Benjy}}
</noinclude>
==Benjamin==
'''Food''': Benjamin is pretty much self-sufficient for food. He is also very resourceful these days about finding leftovers in the fridge or arranging things so he can reach stuff that is out of reach for some grownups ;-) He certainly enjoys having specific foods prepared for him, though, so this can be a treat for good behavior.

Posted on the kitchen wall just outside the office is a list of foods that [[Benjamin]] likes; he used to go to it for inspiration a lot, but lately has settled into eating hot-pockets, frozen foods, and leftovers (as well as occasional healthy foods like bananas) as long as they are available. Some of the items on the list will need grownup preparation, and feel free to call to ask where ingredients or cooking apparati can be found, if you can't find something. We will make sure to stock up on his current favorite, frozen Lasagna, which he has been preparing for himself for many months now, as well as hot pockets.

'''Cleaning up''': You don't have to do anything with the "points system" if you don't want to, but we usually reward the kids with points for taking care of their places at table (one point for each: tray, lid, utensil, plate). I also occasionally charge them points for cleaning up after them when we need to use the table; we should do this more regularly so that they will get the idea, but we don't have time/energy.

'''Sleep issues''': Every now and then, Benjamin will have night-terrors; the most attention he ever needs when this happens, these days, is some soothing words, maybe an elbow to hold (he has a thing for elbows), or maybe someone to lie down with him for a few minutes. He went through a particularly bad phase of this a month or two ago, but hasn't had any since then (nothing that woke us up, anyway). Lately these episodes have been shorter and shorter, and you don't actually have to get up and check on him; just wait and see if he quiets down within 30-60 seconds.

Sometimes he will need a foot-rub or a leg-rub; he knows what growing pains are and will tell you if he has them, and then the foot/leg rub is our usual solution. There's also a homeopathic we usually give them which seems to help: "Calc Phos"