- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Tiny Diners
Including Toddlers in Family Dinnertime By Laura Cone
preparation. A family life educator with the University of Florida at Gainesville, Converse suggests letting a toddler help out in the kitchen by pouring water, ripping lettuce or setting the table with plastic cups and forks.
"There are a lot of things they can do at their age and stage," Converse says. "It's good quality time particularly for working parents. You have to get a meal on the table and spending the time with your child while you are doing it is a positive thing. You are also having fun with the child while you are preparing a meal."
Children are more likely to eat a meal if they helped prepare it, she says. She recommends putting your child in a highchair so you may talk to them while you cook.
Some of the frustrations of dinnertime revolve around the fact young children do not sit still for long periods of time, and they are particular about what they eat. "They can go through what we call food jags where they want the same kind of food over and over," Converse says. "That's a normal stage. They have strong likes and dislikes of food. As adults we learn to like things and children have not learned to like those flavors. We think they should like something and they just don't. The answer may be to be patient with them. Offer them one or two types of food at a time. If they don't like it remove it and offer something else."
Finally, eating with an infant or toddler will rarely be a black-tie event. Your child's idea of a first course may be to eat a few peas followed by a second course of smashed banana. Plan on changing your clothes and mopping the kitchen floor after your toddler has eaten. In the end, it's worth it to know you have bonded as a family at the dinner table.
