How to teach a child to hold a spoon correctly

The content of the article

1 When a child begins to eat with a spoon himself
2 A spoon is not a toy!
3 How to teach a child to eat independently
4 How to teach a child to hold a spoon
5 Video: how to teach a child to eat with a spoon

The natural curiosity of a young child allows him to learn many skills on his own. Parents can only support and guide the baby. The ability to eat with a spoon yourself is one of the main achievements of a young child.

When a child begins to eat with a spoon himself

All children are different and they also develop in different ways. Someone already in half a year shows interest in a spoon, and someone as early as three asks his mother to feed him. But there is still a common time frame. Usually, after six months, the child begins to eat complementary foods, mastering cereals and mashed vegetables. Already at these moments, he carefully examines the spoon with which his mother feeds him. He is interested in this subject, he perceives it as a toy. If the baby is trying to steal your spoon, do not resist it. Just take another spoon so as not to interrupt the feeding process.

On average, spoons begin to be interested in 7-9 months. By the year the baby knows how to handle this cutlery in the slightest degree and at least several times brings the food into his mouth. By the age of two, a child eats with a spoon not only porridge and viscous products, but also soup. The final neat eating skills the baby masters only by the age of three. Although some fidgets can eat at five so that all the food is under the table.

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A spoon is not a toy!

From the very first moments when the child begins to be interested in a spoon, you need to let him know what to do with it and what not. You can play with a spoon at the table - slurp it in your mouth, tap on a plate, feed your mother, grandmother and doll. But when the child tries to start dragging a spoon around the apartment and poking it in all the cracks - gently take the cutlery from his hands. Thus, you fix a clear association in the child - a spoon is needed only for food. Not for picking in a flower pot, not for pouring sand in the sandbox, and certainly not for banging on my mother’s head. Having marked the boundaries of behavior at the very beginning, parents relieve themselves of many potential problems.

How to teach a child to eat independently

Sooner or later, the child will be interested in the spoon and pull it out of your hands. Encourage these actions - praise the baby for independence. After that, he will try to scoop up some food himself. If this does not work out for him, carefully help him - make sure that there is food in his spoon. At first, the kitchen after the meal will resemble a grand battle - pieces of porridge are spread on the table, floor and walls. However, gather all your patience into a fist, be calm and balanced. Here are some tips to help you make your child more comfortable with eating.

The spoon should be comfortable. Do not immediately give the baby a metal device. Firstly, such a spoon is heavy - the child will not be able to control it, in his arms there is still so little strength. Secondly, a metal spoon can cause injury - a baby can hit such a spoon on his head and arm, or bite his tongue because of it. It is best to use an ordinary plastic baby spoon, often it depicts fairy-tale characters making the cutlery even more attractive. For babies whose teeth have not yet erupted, there are soft silicone spoons that can be bitten and nibbled.
The highchair must be stable. It will be convenient for the kid to pick a spoon in the plate if the level of the table is comfortable enough.
I would also like to say about the plates. Buy a special baby plate on suction cups. It is mounted on the surface of the table and it will be impossible to remove it without special efforts.That is, your kid in a fit of the game will not be able to knock over the plate.
Teach your child by example. If possible, feed your baby at the same time that the whole family is having a meal. Note the crumbs on how the rest of the family eat with spoons.

Do not rush to feed the child with a second spoon - so you will beat off his desire for independent activity. At the beginning of the meal, when the baby wants to eat, but is not determined to play, let him eat himself. So hunger will make the child throw all his strength into mastering the skill. And after a while, you can help the child by feeding him the remnants of porridge.
While the baby is just learning to eat on his own, put only cereals and thick mashed potatoes on his plate. Soup is too early for him.
So that the child wants to eat with a spoon, put in his plate your favorite foods - slices of fruit, sliced pancakes, sweet porridge. If the child does not like vegetable puree, it is better not to put it on a plate for self-eating.

If the child is already more than one and a half years old, and he is still not trying to eat on his own, do not rush to feed the baby every time. Place a bowl of delicious food in front of a hungry child and give a spoon. Say that mom is very busy and step aside, deal with supposedly important things. The child must understand that sometimes there are times that no one can help him except him. And hunger, as they say, is not an aunt, so the baby will quickly understand what and how to do in order to eat.

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How to teach a child to hold a spoon

The ability of a child to hold a spoon correctly comes with time. At the very beginning, when the baby is still very small, he will keep a spoon in his fist, this is normal. At a more conscious age, you can show the baby how mom and dad hold a spoon. Each time, focus on this, gently correct the position of the hands of the crumbs.

In children's stores there are special rubber linings for a spoon with special notches for the fingers. They allow the child to fix the fingers in a certain position. Over time, when the child gets used to it, the simulator is removed, and muscle memory does not allow the child to hold the spoon in a different way.

Teaching a child any skills at an early age is patient and painstaking work. Do not be angry if your baby has not succeeded yet. It will take a little time, and you will remember with a smile about the causes of your concern.