Help at the Elbow

What you need

• a short spoon
• a bowl of yoghurt

How to do it

1. Sit beside your toddler and help them hold the spoon, your hand over theirs.
2. Scoop and bring it to their mouth together so they feel the whole movement.
3. Once that's easy, move your help down to their wrist, then to their elbow.
4. Give only as much help as the spoonful needs.

Why it matters

Guiding the movement teaches it faster than watching does, and moving your help further from the spoon step by step hands the job over without them noticing.

What they're learning

Feeling the movement

Being guided through it teaches the shape of the scoop and lift.

Doing it themselves

Each step your help moves back, more of the job is theirs.

Spoon to mouth

The same movement, repeated with less help each time, becomes their own.

What to look for

Watch for them carrying on the movement after you've let go.

A tip

If they pull away from having their hand held, put your hand under theirs instead of over it. A lot of toddlers find that easier to accept.

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