When sharing a meal together, offer your toddler the foods that you are eating. Encourage him to try new things, but do not force him to eat. Tell him what you are giving him to try and set a good example by eating well and having good manners. Allow him to feed himself and to explore his food. It is alright if he makes a mess!
This activity will help your toddler start to understand and use common rules of speech, communicate using consistent words, begin to understand routines, and be able to do more for herself.
Make a fruit salad with your toddler to enjoy for snack. Discuss what fruits you are adding while you make the salad. Encourage him to repeat the names of the fruits you are using. Once the salad is made, sit him down to play and eat. Ask him to sort the fruit by saying, “Can you put all of the bananas in a pile?” Allow him to try on his own first and only help if needed. Once he is done with the bananas, allow him to sort the other fruit. Let him feed himself while playing.
This activity will help your toddler ask for help when needed, use an increasing number of words, name objects, sort objects, and be able to do more things for himself.
When eating at a restaurant with your toddler, make sure you bring things to keep him busy. Put small and engaging toys in a bag. Include things that you think will keep his hands busy and that he will like. Engage your child by talking to him about his toys and what they look like and do. For instance, if he has a toy that spins and he says, “spin,” expand upon that by saying, “yes, the toy is spinning.”
This activity will help your toddler to explore new activities, start to understand and use common rules of speech, and develop eye-hand coordination.