A Few at a Time

What you need

• cereal or another snack they like
• a small bowl
• their plate

How to do it

1. Keep the snack in a bowl next to you rather than putting it all on their plate.
2. Put two or three pieces down and eat alongside them.
3. When they've finished those, wait with the bowl in view.
4. As soon as they point at it or reach towards it, say 'more' and top them up.

Why it matters

A snack that arrives a few at a time gives a dozen natural reasons to ask for more in the space of one sitting, without anything being taken away.

What they're learning

Asking for more

Snack time comes round every day, which makes it the most practised request a toddler has.

Asking with a gesture

A hand towards the bowl is a clear, workable request long before the word arrives.

Eating at their own pace

Small amounts let them finish a mouthful before the next one appears.

What to look for

Watch for them looking up at you between handfuls. That look is half the request.

A tip

This is about topping up, never about holding food back. If they're hungry or upset, put the lot on the plate and leave the practice for another day.

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