Now they are familiar with the world of food, find out how your toddler’s journey of discovery will progress and the milestones they will achieve along the way.
Your toddler is growing fast and is more active than ever.
Therefore, they need a balanced diet that includes plenty of
nutrient-dense
foods to provide them with enough energy.
But your toddler's journey of food discovery is also an
important factor in helping them achieve some key developmental
milestones. Here are some of the ways your toddler learns through
food.
Developing their independence
From 12 months, toddlers become increasingly independent and may
want to explore their food for themselves. Offer finger foods and
let them try feeding themselves with their own spoon if they want
to. One trick is to have a spoon each, so you can make sure at
least some of the food is on target.
Learning to socialise
By now your toddler will be eating three meals at regular times
each day plus healthy snacks in between. Try to eat together as a
family when you can. Mealtimes are an important social event,
helping to pass on communication and sharing skills. Your toddler
will watch you or their siblings and copy what you are doing too.
This could help them to become adventurous eaters.
Practising hand-eye co-ordination
Self feeding helps to develop your toddler's hand-eye
co-ordination. So encourage them to feed themselves wherever
possible. Offer finger foods and give them a spoon or fork that is
comfortable to hold.
Developing hand skills
Self feeding also helps develop your toddler's hand and finger
skills, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Your toddler
will be mastering the pincer grasp, learning to pick up peas,
pieces of pasta or other small pieces of food between their finger
and thumb.
Your toddler may have their own ideas about what constitutes a
finger food. So try to be relaxed about any mess!