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How to Encourage Self-Feeding in Children?

Ifchildrenarenotencouragedtoeatontheirown,itmaybecomedauntingforparentsduringthelaterchildhoodyears.Childrenmayrefusetoeatontheirownifthestageoflearningtoself-feedisskipped.Hereishowyoucanencourageyourchildtoeatonherown.Childrenshouldlearntoself-feedanditshouldbestartedassoonasthechildstartspickinganythingtoputitdirectlytohermouth.Whenthetrainingisdonelate,manypracticalproblemsariseandoftenlearningprocessalsolengthens.Manyparentsprefertoskipthisstagethinkingthatkidslearnontheirownastheygrow.Here,onethingisveryimportanttonotethatthisaveryimportantstage.InthisarticleWhyisSelf-FeedingImportantforChildren?OfferFoodbyHandOfferFoodinPlateGiveLotsofOpportunitiesSpendTimePracticingSelf-FeedingLetYourChildTryTrainYourChildStep-By-StepHaveMealsTogetherWhyisSelf-FeedingImportantforChildren?Therearemanyreasonswhylearningtoeatonherownisanimportantstageforyourchild.Eatingonherownisaskillthateverychildneedstodevelopforlateryearsofchildhoodandforlifeaswell.Self-feedinginvolvesfeelingthetextureoffood,holdingit,puttingitinmouthetc,whichhelpsyourchilddevelopfinemotorskills.Thisalsoincludesholdingaspooninhandandmanagingtoeatfood.Thishelpsachildlearnaboutthetaste,texture,temperatureandsmellofdifferenttypesoffood.Shewilllearnwhichofthefooditemsiseasiertopickandholdinhandandwhichofthemarenot.HowtoEncourageKidstoFeedThemselves?Herearesometipsforencouragingchildrentoeatontheirown.OfferFoodbyHandOneofthebestwaystostartwithtrainingyourchildtoself-feedistoofferherfoodslikebiscuitordryfooditems.Makesureyoudonotgiveanythingverysmallbecauseifyourchilddoesnotchewit,swallowingmightchokeher.Simplyjustavoidfoodsthatcancausechokinghazards.OfferFoodinPlateYoucanalsoletherpicksoftpiecesoffoodfromplate.Ifyoushowyourchildhowtopickandeatthefoodparticlesfromtheplate,shewillimitateyou.Findoutthetasteshelikesthemost.GiveLotsofOpportunitiesAlwayskeepinmindthateverychildlearnsatherownpace.Ifyourchildistakingalittlebitmoretime,donotgetannoyedorfrustrated.Givehermoreandmoreopportunitiesandlethertryandstruggle.Thisishowtheylearn.Ifyourchildisnotusingherfingerstopickasmallfooditem,trygivingheronepieceatatime.Donotletgountilyouseeyourchildusingherthumbandindexfinger.Takesometimeoutandpracticebeforethemealstarts.SpendTimePracticingSelf-FeedingSpendalittleextratimebeforeandafterthemealtime.Practicingandgettingintotheformwilltakesometimeandyourchildwillfinishmealtakingmoretime.Remember,itismatterofphase.Youwillfindthatwithinnotimeyourchildhasmasteredtheskill.LetYourChildTryThemostimportantthingthatyoucandoinitiallyistoletyourchildtry.Thisisvitalifyouaretryingtoteachyourchildtousethespoon.Youmighthavetoholdherhandtoteachanddirectspoontohermouthinitially.TrainYourChildStep-By-StepThisisveryimportantbecausemostoftheparentsstartexpectingorganisedandmanagedself-feedingfromtheirtoddlers.So,lethermasterholdingfoodwithfingersandthenintroduceusingspoon.OfferFavouriteFoodItemsEvenatoddlercangetexcitedseeingherfavouritefooditem.So,letherknowanddevelopdifferentkindsoftastes.HaveMealsTogetherHavingmealstogetheristhebestwaytoencourageyourchildtoeatonherown.Whenyoutakefoodinyourplate,servefoodinherplateaswell.Starteatingtogether.Yourchildwilllearnalotofthingsbyobservingyouwhileeating.Askherifshewantsanything.Ifsheisdonewithhearmeals,askherifshewantsmore.Servelittleinthebeginning.Whenyouaretrainingandallowingyourtoddlertoeatonherown,youshouldhavepatienceandshouldbepreparedforthemess.Itisquitenatural.Letyourchildfocusononethingandmasteritfirst.Keepthetraininggoingonandshewilllearnhowtoeatinacleanmannerverysoon.Whyisitnecessarytoteachtheskillofself-feedingtochildren?Howtoteachchildrentoeatontheirown?Atwhatageshouldchildrenstarteatingontheirown?Discusshere.

Children should learn to self-feed and it should be started as soon as the child starts picking anything to put it directly to her mouth. When the training is done late, many practical problems arise and often learning process also lengthens. Many parents prefer to skip this stage thinking that kids learn on their own as they grow. Here, one thing is very important to note that this a very important stage.

Why is Self-Feeding Important for Children?

There are many reasons why learning to eat on her own is an important stage for your child.

Eating on her own is a skill that every child needs to develop for later years of childhood and for life as well.

Self-feeding involves feeling the texture of food, holding it, putting it in mouth etc, which helps your child develop fine motor skills.

This also includes holding a spoon in hand and managing to eat food.

This helps a child learn about the taste, texture, temperature and smell of different types of food.

She will learn which of the food items is easier to pick and hold in hand and which of them are not.

How to Encourage Kids to Feed Themselves?

Here are some tips for encouraging children to eat on their own.

Offer Food by Hand

One of the best ways to start with training your child to self-feed is to offer her foods like biscuit or dry food items. Make sure you do not give anything very small because if your child does not chew it, swallowing might choke her. Simply just avoid foods that can cause choking hazards.

Offer Food in Plate

You can also let her pick soft pieces of food from plate. If you show your child how to pick and eat the food particles from the plate, she will imitate you. Find out the taste she likes the most.

Give Lots of Opportunities

Always keep in mind that every child learns at her own pace. If your child is taking a little bit more time, do not get annoyed or frustrated. Give her more and more opportunities and let her try and struggle. This is how they learn. If your child is not using her fingers to pick a small food item, try giving her one piece at a time. Do not let go until you see your child using her thumb and index finger. Take some time out and practice before the meal starts.

Spend Time Practicing Self-Feeding

Spend a little extra time before and after the meal time. Practicing and getting into the form will take some time and your child will finish meal taking more time. Remember, it is matter of phase. You will find that within no time your child has mastered the skill.

Let Your Child Try

The most important thing that you can do initially is to let your child try. This is vital if you are trying to teach your child to use the spoon. You might have to hold her hand to teach and direct spoon to her mouth initially.

Train Your Child Step-By-Step

This is very important because most of the parents start expecting organised and managed self-feeding from their toddlers. So, let her master holding food with fingers and then introduce using spoon.

Offer Favourite Food Items

Even a toddler can get excited seeing her favourite food item. So, let her know and develop different kinds of tastes.

Have Meals Together

Having meals together is the best way to encourage your child to eat on her own. When you take food in your plate, serve food in her plate as well. Start eating together. Your child will learn a lot of things by observing you while eating. Ask her if she wants anything. If she is done with hear meals, ask her if she wants more. Serve little in the beginning.

When you are training and allowing your toddler to eat on her own, you should have patience and should be prepared for the mess. It is quite natural. Let your child focus on one thing and master it first. Keep the training going on and she will learn how to eat in a clean manner very soon.

Why is it necessary to teach the skill of self-feeding to children? How to teach children to eat on their own? At what age should children start eating on their own? Discuss here.

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3 Comments

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Barkha.8 years ago

At what age are children ready to self-feed themselves.

Alesha.8 years ago

Giving food in plate to children can help to encourage self-feeding.

Palak.8 years ago

Teaching children to eat on their own is a must. I have seen many parents who feed their children up to the age of 8 or 10 which looks quite annoying.