Meal Times Are Important
We love to eat good food with friends and family. Everything tastes better when you are happy, relaxed and part of a group. Young children enjoy eating in a happy, relaxed group, too. Mealtime is important to them.
Helpful hints on making meal times at your house easier and more fun:
- Try to sit down together as a family to eat. When you can’t do that, sit and talk with your child while they eat. Or at least be close by.
- Children eat better when it is calm and quiet. Turn off the TV. And don’t fuss at your child at mealtime!
- Expect your child to spill. All children spill. Just put a little bit in the cup or glass until your child passes this stage. Keep a towel handy.
- Don’t argue with a child who doesn’t want to eat! Your child may be tired, excited or just not hungry. (Have they been snacking too close to mealtime?) Stay calm! Wait until the next regular meal or snack time to give food. Children will eat when they get hungry enough.
Helpful Hints
- Put small amounts on your child’s plate.
- This makes eating look easier. Cut foods into bite-size pieces.
- Give a new food when your child feels good. It helps if your child is hungry, too.
- Put a little bit of a new food beside a food your child already likes. Children have to SEE a new food a few times before they try it. It helps if you are eating it, too!
- Some days your child won’t eat much.
- Other days your child will eat quite a bit. This is normal. It all works out if you are giving the right kinds of food.
- Children like food that is easy to eat. They like it to look good, too. They like bright colors, fun shapes and mild flavors. They don’t like food too hot or too cold. They like finger foods and foods they don’t have to chew too much.
- And children really like to eat with other people! So whenever you can, take time to share meal times with your child. It will be fun for both of you!