How to teach a child to eat independently: useful tips

Babies aged 10-12 months become more active and inquisitive, are happy to learn new skills and strive to do everything on their own, without the help of a mom or dad. This period, according to children's psychologists, is ideal to teach a child how to use cutlery. At first porridge will be everywhere: on a table, floor and even walls, but over time, a young student will be able to tame a obstinate spoon and will please his mother with his success.

Discoverer set

The handles of babies are small and weak, so they are not able to hold iron cutlery for a long time. It is better to start with light plastic spoons and forks of bright colors that will interest the baby and make the feeding process more fun. Complement the set of the discoverer with a small convenient cup and a beautiful plate painted with butterflies, flowers, animals or cars. The kid will definitely want to eat all the porridge, because under the tasty and healthy layer a cute kitten or favorite character from the animated series about pigs hid.

You should buy a rubberized shallow spoon, in which only 5-10 g of mashed potatoes are placed, and a fork with rounded blunt tips. Children often wave their cutlery and use them for other purposes, risking injury or sticking out their eyes. Accessories designed for feeding babies are not only comfortable and bright, but also safe.

Family dinners

Parents are advised to comment and explain their actions. For example: “Mom took a spoon to eat soup. You have one too. Come on, take it in a pen and try to eat some porridge on your own to grow as big as dad. ”

Be sure to connect everyone present at the table to the process. You can offer the child to scoop a little mashed potatoes from his mother’s plate or feed his dad with his porridge. Let the baby stain the table and bring to the mouth only a tenth, but he tried it, so well done.

Correct consistency

Children should enjoy eating. You cannot force or shove food by force into a child who resists and dismisses “airplanes” and “trains” carrying porridge. You need to teach your baby to eat on his own when he is hungry. Prepare a delicious mashed potatoes or soup, be sure to grind to a homogeneous state. Scooping a thick paste of vegetables is much easier than pasta or a piece of potato floating in the broth. A kid who fails to catch carrots or meatballs from soup will begin to get nervous and will want to learn. It’s easier when mom takes out tidbits and puts them simply in her mouth.

Some children do not have a relationship with spoons. They like forks to chop pasta or chopped banana on. What should mom do? Hand the kid the cutlery that he likes and don’t worry. Once the child is tired of messing with a fork, he will require a bowl of soup and a spoon. You just have to wait.

Food games

First, children learn to scoop porridge from a bowl, and then bring food to their mouth. Between the first and second points several days, weeks or months may elapse. The kid cannot be rushed. Let them build buckwheat towers or dig tunnels in the curd mass, and so that the child does not remain hungry, mothers use the “Two Spoons” technique.

They give one device to a young student, allowing them to poke around in a plate, and they work on the second themselves. While the baby scoops up the soup with interest and pours it back into the bowl, the mother quickly feeds the researcher and takes care of her own affairs.

Lunch cannot be turned into a game. If a child:

• throws porridge throughout the kitchen;
• throws soup at adults;
• flips the plate;
• washes vegetable puree.

Mom should stop pranks and explain that at the table you need to behave culturally and not indulge. The spoon is intended for soup and porridge, it should not be knocked on the table or plate, thrown throughout the kitchen or beat an unfortunate cat. Does a child skip words? Starting to drum even harder? It's time to take the spoon to the sink and send the baby to another room. Lunch is over, you will have to continue studying at dinner or breakfast.

Patience and calm

Screams and slaps will not force the baby to hold a spoon tighter or not sprinkle porridge. Good results are given by praise and patience when mother does not inadvertently scold spilled soup and rejoices that the child managed to eat a piece of omelet on his own.

So that the baby quickly mastered cutlery, you can never:

1. Hurry and customize it, because soon to go for a walk or go on a visit.
2. To force to eat only with the right or left hand. Let yourself choose which side is more convenient to bring a spoon to your mouth. It's not scary if in the evening he worked with his right, and in the morning decided to take the device with his left hand. Over time, the baby will decide and make the final choice.
3. To scold or slap on the priest when food from a spoon falls on a table or recently washed floor. Children do not have such precise movements as adults. The kid really tries not to stain his clothes and tablecloth, but he does not always succeed.
4. To call a child bad when he eats little or without hunting. Parents form complexes in crumbs, which over time will lead to obesity or problems with being overweight.

It is imperative to conduct educational conversations with all grandparents, explain how to feed a child, and what to do. If at home my mother does not allow her to dip her hands in the soup, then this behavior is unacceptable while away.

Lead and prompt

To teach a child how to handle a spoon, you should give him a spatula. The usual plastic, which will fit in a child’s palm. Let him load the sand into a typewriter or bucket, feed him a teddy bear. Thanks to the games, the child learns to hold the spatula correctly so that it is comfortable and scoop up the earth.

The spoon is slightly smaller than a plastic toy, but has a similar shape. It’s easier for young sandbox researchers to hold a cutlery and pick up porridge from a plate. Of course, mom will have to show the basics:

• which fingers where to put;
• how the hand should move so that the porridge enters the mouth, and not the nose or ear;
• with what force to squeeze the handle;
• how to scoop mashed potatoes.

A kid who is only getting acquainted with cutlery needs to be corrected. Hold a spoon with it and bring it to your mouth. Wipe the remaining puree from the cheeks. Give a break and gain strength when he is tired of eating or lifting a heavy cutlery.

Sometimes mom wants to feed the baby herself, because it’s faster and easier. Yes, adults can stuff porridge into a baby in a matter of minutes, but then the baby will not learn to independently serve itself at the table.

How to teach a child to eat with a spoon and save nerves

Walls stained with porridge. Puddles of broccoli on the floor. Piles of t-shirts and pants that need to be washed from the soup. How can mom not lose her mind and not lose her temper? Prepares in advance for feeding the baby.

1. Lay oilcloth on the floor or put some newspapers.
2. If the house is warm, undress the baby to diapers or completely. To wash the crumb off the porridge is much easier than removing stains of juice or zucchini puree.
3. Does the kid get his hair dirty? Cap will save, which does not have to be thoroughly washed. It is enough to sweep away the remnants of food, and then rinse under the tap.
4. Buy plates on suction cups. The kid will not be able to move the bowl from its place, it will be more convenient for him to scoop up soup, which means that less food will be on the floor.
5. Do not allow the child to walk around the apartment with a spoon or plate. You need to eat only in the kitchen, sitting at the table, like parents. Wanted to go to the gym? He set the bowl down, put down the spoon, rinsed his hands and face, and then went about his business.
6. No cartoons. The baby should concentrate on the spoon. First eat, and then watch TV or play cars.

The child can rest and arrange scenes, try to manipulate his parents, but it is important not to give in. Refuses food until they turn on cartoons? Nothing, hungry and he asks for porridge. He takes the soup with his hands and spreads it over his face? The child is full and begins to indulge. You need to pick up a plate, wash and send to play.

Kids learn to eat on their own for weeks and months. No need to rush. Let them experiment, try, make mistakes. Mom's task is to stand by and help. Guide and prompt, praise and enjoy little successes. When a child feels that he is supported and loved, he will surely do everything right and learn to eat independently faster than his peers.

Video: how to teach a child to eat for himself