10 Tips for Teaching Table Manners to Your Tot
The phrase, ātable mannersā may sound a little old-fashioned, but the truth is, teaching them never goes out of style. Babies and toddlers arenāt born with table mannersĀ (though that would be nice!), so itās up to us as parents to mold our kiddos into polite, respectful, and gracious people who help honour the sacredness of family meals. Science provesĀ family mealsĀ are crucial to childhood development and the strength of a family. They reduce the risk of depression and substance abuse, help families eat healthier, increase self-esteem and resilience, and much more. Table manners can help make mealtimes more enjoyable, foster healthy relationships, build social skills, and establish household order and peace when chaos can easily be the norm. And implementing table manners early on will help your child understand behaviour expectations in social settings beyond the home. It can take a long time to build good table manners, so have patience with your little one and do them a solid by teaching these skills as soon as theyāre ready to eat.Ā
Here are 10 tips for teaching table manners to your mini munchers.
Table Manners for Babies (6-12 Months)
Teach highchair eating.
You might feel table manners donāt apply to this age group, but you can start teaching table manners in age-appropriate ways as soon as your little one starts eating. Sitting your baby in a highchair to eat is table manners 101 for this age. Your message to your infant is that there is a time and place for eating and that eating happens when sitting down.Ā Ā
Start a handwashing routine.
HandwashingĀ is a vital mealtime behavior that you can begin early on. Clean your babyās hands with a wipe while sitting in the highchair and repeat before all meals. You can wash your hands in the sink together as they grow.Ā
Foster a positive feeding environment.
The most important thing right now is creating a positive environment for babies to learn to enjoy food. You can keep mealtimes positive by resisting the urge to make your baby to take more bites. At these ages, babies show theyāve had enough to eat by sealing their lips, turning their heads away, holding food inside their mouths, or spitting food out.Ā
Introduce plates, bowls, cups, and spoons.
Six months is a good age toĀ introduce a sippy cup or a small open cupĀ of breastmilk or formula. You can also add small amounts of your babyās food to a plate or bowl. Around eight months, babies show more interest in feeding themselves. While it's perfectly okay for your baby to pick up pieces of food like mashed peas, chopped boiled eggs, or avocado cubes, encourage them to use a spoon with foods like yogurt, cream of wheat, or purees. Expect lots of messes and spills because babies arenāt usually mastering their spoon skills until around 15 to 18 months.Ā
Toddlers (12 months to 36 months)
Open your meal with prayer, blessing, or reflection.
No matter your religious beliefs, opening your dinnertime by saying a few words can set the tone of the meal. Moreover, it can encourage appreciation for those who helped prepare the food and set an example of what it means to show gratitude. The bonus is a few minutes of silence before eating. Your toddler may want to chime in as well!Ā
Teach āpleaseā and āthank you.ā
While teaching a toddler to sit still instead of squirming and fidgeting is nearly impossible, teaching āpleaseā and āthank youā is doable. But donāt expect them to say it every time!Ā It helps to speak this way in everyday conversations, so itās typical for the whole family to use kind words (adults, too!). Role modeling good table manners go far at this age.
Help your child keep food where it belongs (not on the floor!).
Some little ones may start flinging spaghetti everywhere around 12 months. Food throwing happens for multiple reasons: when babies are done eating, when theyāre demanding attention, or simply out of curiosity and their desire for exploration. Toddlers love getting a rise out of you, so try to stay calm when they behave this way. It also helps to refrain from laughing at these behaviors, or your tot will want to do it more, seeking to please you.Ā Instead of saying phrases like, āwe donāt throw food on the floor,ā tell them what behaviorĀ isĀ acceptable. Try: āOur food stays on our plate.ā At 12 months, toddlers can show they donāt like a particular food. Some parents may offer a small āno thank youā bowl on the tray for food kids donāt want to eat.Ā
Eliminate distractions.Ā
Toddlers are easily distracted by screens and toys when itās time to eat. Help them focus on food and family at mealtimes by keeping the toys and screens out of sight. The rule should apply to the whole family, too! Engage in mealtime conversations and encourage discussions at the table. Lots of mealtime chatter is good for everyone and helps build your toddlerās language skills.
Praise good meal behaviors.
If you notice your child is doing well using a utensil, staying seated, or taking a bite of a new food, acknowledge it. You might consider saying somethingĀ like, ā I noticed you tried a new food; youāre so brave, ā or ā you are doing a great job poking your green beans with your fork.ā Not only will you be building their confidence and self-esteem, but they will also be more likely to repeat that good behaviour in the future.Ā (You canĀ supersize this praise byĀ gossipingĀ about your toddlerās good table manners!)
Show your toddler how to use a napkin.
Thereās probably no use putting a napkin in your toddlerās lap; however, you can show them how to use it to keep their face and hands clean when eating! At first, they may smear marinara sauce around their face instead of truly wiping it off. Whatās important is theyāre learning, and the more they practise, the more of a habit itāll become.Ā Ā
More Healthy Eating Tips:
- How to Include Your Baby at Family Meals
- How to Expand Your Picky Eater's Palate
- Healthy Toddler Snack Ideas
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