Picnic Blanket Sips

What you need

• a blanket
• a small unbreakable cup
• a splash of water
• a few pieces of cereal or fruit

How to do it

1. Spread a blanket somewhere flat and sit your toddler upright on it.
2. Set out the snack and stand the cup where they can reach it.
3. Eat and drink alongside them, taking your own sips as you go.
4. Refill with a splash at a time rather than filling it to the top.

Why it matters

Outdoors, a spilled cup is just water on the grass, so a toddler can take the sip at their own speed without anyone hovering over the tablecloth.

What they're learning

Sitting to drink

Sitting upright and still for a sip is safer than drinking on the move, and it's a habit worth starting early.

Two-handed grip

Uneven ground makes the hold a little harder, which is good practice once the flat-table version is easy.

Eating together

Sharing a snack and a drink with someone is most of what mealtimes are for.

What to look for

Watch for them putting the cup down on the blanket and coming back to it. That's them managing their own drink.

A tip

Take the cup rather than the bottle even for a short trip out. The practice adds up faster than any single sit-down session.

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