- Which fork to use? Why use a fork when you have two perfectly useful hands!
- Napkin on your lap? Who cares about a napkin when you’re up to your ears in yummy spaghetti sauce!
Indeed, by adult standards, most toddlers have a long way to go when it comes to mastering table manners. But don’t despair–with patience and encouragement, your toddler just might grow up knowing how to use a finger bowl! With an early start on Table Manners 101, you can do wonders in establishing meal-time etiquette that’ll last a lifetime.
Be Patient With A Toddler’s Idea of Manners
Encourage good manners, but always be patient and empathetic to a toddler’s young perspective on things. It helps to realize a toddler’s insights on table manners such as:
Culinary Curiosity Toddlers have a natural urge to experiment with new things–and food is no exception. From a toddler’s point of view, potatoes need squishing just as much as modeling dough!
Spoons Are Tricky When You’re Two Toddlers have limited skill with cups and spoons, and even with finger feeding. Their meal-time coordination is not fine-tuned enough to prevent food from getting all over faces–and elbows, and the ceiling....
Are We Done Yet? A child this age simply can’t sit still at the table for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. He’ll be eager to get on to playtime or other distractions whether or not the meal is finished.
Encouraging The Basics For Starters
For all their limitations, toddlers are learning the basics of table manners from you–even simple lessons like how to enjoy food and companionship during a meal. The child who sees parents eating neatly, using napkins and utensils properly and speaking politely to each other is the child who will eventually learn his table Ps & Qs.
Encourage basic table manners with these simple tips:
- Make mealtimes pleasant.
- Avoid battles over disliked foods.
- Praise attempts at self-feeding.
- Set a good example with your own manners.
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