Let It Land Everywhere
What you need
- a short spoon
- a bowl of custard or thick yoghurt
- a towel or bib
How to do it
- Put a bib on them and a towel under the chair before you start.
- Give them the spoon and the bowl and let them get on with it.
- Don't wipe their face or the tray until they've finished.
- Clean up together at the end, not in the middle.
Why it matters
Mess is part of learning to use a spoon, not a sign it's going wrong, and a toddler who's being wiped between every mouthful spends more time stopping than practising.
What they're learning
- Keeping going
- Not being stopped every few seconds gives them long runs of practice.
- Getting used to textures
- Food on hands and faces is part of getting comfortable with it.
- Spoon to mouth
- More attempts, even messy ones, mean more practice.
What to look for
Watch for them concentrating on the spoon rather than the mess.
A tip
Plan it for a meal when you're not in a hurry and a bath is coming anyway.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: load the spoon for them now and then
Harder: let them manage the whole bowl before you step in
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Sensory activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds · Toddler activities with a bowl · Toddler activities with a spoon · Toddler activities with a towel