Cup to the Table
What you need
- their cup
- their plate
How to do it
- Before a meal, hand nothing over. Say their name and wait for them to look at you.
- Say: 'bring your cup and put it on the table'.
- Stay where you are while they do it, so the instruction is doing the work.
- Next meal, try the plate instead of the cup.
Why it matters
Laying the table is an errand toddlers actively want to do, and wanting to do it is what gets them to listen to the whole instruction.
What they're learning
- Holding two things in mind
- Fetch it and put it somewhere is a genuine two-part errand.
- Being a helper
- A real job for the family is one of the things toddlers most want.
- Carrying carefully
- Getting the cup there in one piece is its own small achievement.
What to look for
Watch for them putting it in the right place rather than just handing it to you.
A tip
Make sure you've got their attention before you start. Name first, then the instruction. Half the time a missed instruction was never heard.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: stand by the table and point to where it goes
Harder: ask for two things: 'your cup and your spoon'
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Everyday helper activities · Activities for 18 month olds · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with cups