I Can Serve Myself
Here's What To Do
1
Talk about the food choices that are on the table.
2
Show your child how you put food on your own plate, and talk about it as you serve yourself.
3
Now it's your child's turn! Invite them to choose what food they would like to eat, and allow them to scoop it onto their own plate.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Sit with your child at the table. Feel your body in the chair- which parts of your body are touching the chair? The floor?
E
Engage:
- "Tonight we have chicken, rice, and beans. I'm going to take a piece of chicken, a big scoop of rice because I love rice, and a smaller scoop of beans. What would you like to put on your plate?"
- "Do you think you can scoop the beans yourself? You try first and I'll help if you need it."
E
Encourage:
- Remember that making a mess is part of the learning process. Over time, your child will learn how to serve themselves with less mess.
- Try to let your child take the lead in deciding what's on their plate. If a meal is unfamiliar to your child, or includes foods that are not your child's favorite, try to include one item that you know your child will eat. Having one preferred food as a choice may encourage your child to try other food on the table.
R
Reflect:
- "Did you like choosing the foods on your plate? Would you like to practice putting food on your plate tomorrow, too?"
Not quite ready?
Put your hand on top of your child's hand as they put food on their plate. You can also make it easier with smaller child-friendly containers, like a small cup of milk to pour into their cereal instead of the whole milk carton.
Ready for more?
If your child chooses to eat a food that is less familiar, ask them to describe the food and how it tastes.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to express food preferences and serve themselves some food independently.