5 Effective Tips For Teaching Children To Eat Themselves
Teaching children to eat themselves gives parents more time for everyday chores. It also means that all family members can eat at the same time.
For this to be possible, however, you must be present when the child learns to eat on their own. The most important thing is that you make sure to cut the food into small enough pieces to avoid them getting stuck in the throat. You should also praise the child for making sure he keeps trying.
Around 12-15 months, children are usually able to hold a spoon and bring it up to their mouth, of course depending on how the motor skills have developed. This is when the child has the opportunity to take the first big step towards this big change.
At the age of two, children can normally also start using a fork. We recommend that you leave the challenge of cutting the food with a knife until later. It can be dangerous to use a knife and it must always be done under supervision.
To teach children to eat by themselves, it may be helpful to use certain strategies. Here are some tips we highly recommend:
Offer food that can be eaten with your hands
The first step towards teaching children to eat themselves is through food they can poke at themselves with their fingers. The food should be cut into small pieces that are easy to chew and swallow. It should be food that is easily dissolved in the mouth.
When the child gets older and already knows how to take things with his hands, it may be time to introduce cutlery. However, it is still good to cut the food into smaller pieces and give the child a plastic fork to begin with.
There are many easily digestible foods for the little ones. They can be pieces of fruit such as banana, mango or peach, cooked, soft vegetables such as carrot, or pasta and pieces of cheese.
2. Cook the baby’s favorite dish
If you notice that your child has difficulty eating without your help, it can help to cook the child’s favorite dish. It will probably be easier for your child to eat by himself when he has food in front of him that attracts.
The right will motivate the child to pick up the fork and eat without help from the parents or other family members.
3. Eat next to the baby
The best way for children to learn is by observing adults. Therefore, family meals are a great opportunity for them to feed themselves. The children can rehearse and imitate the movements that others do while enjoying the company.
It is actually much more recommended to sit in front of the child and observe it while trying to eat yourself. Having a positive attitude will make the child more confident and therefore learn faster.
4. Involve the whole family
From a psychological point of view, you should try to make the child realize that eating is an activity that older siblings and adults also do. You will see how it will start to want to eat on its own.
All family members should be involved in teaching children to eat themselves. You should also not try to interrupt the baby’s attempts by starting to feed it.
5. Be prepared for disaster
To teach children to eat on their own, you must be prepared for disaster. It is possible that tables and clothes will become really sticky during the process.
We recommend bibs to minimize clutter. Of course, there will be some stains, but protective cloths and bibs will facilitate cleaning.
Remember to give the child plenty of encouragement along the way. Be patient and praise all progress. We recommend that you create a positive environment around meals by creating a simple routine.
