Teaching Toddlers Table Manners

It’s a common scenario in most of my mornings: Breakfast is proceeding calmly, until my little one knocks her food plate and juice bottle down from her high chair. Strawberry yogurt has splattered over my hardwood floors, along with the scrambled eggs I had made earlier. Juice is dripping into a puddle. My toddler giggling at the mess she had made. As I attempt to quickly clean up the food from the floor, my other twin boys start throwing food at each other. I can feel my blood pressure rising quickly as my stomach starts growling. I can hear my husband shouting at the boys to sit and behave, as they start jumping on top of their chairs.

Our mealtimes are never the quiet, peaceful, bonding time I hoped they would be. It seems like I can never have guests over due to their poor table manners. If there is one lesson I have learned as a parent is to expect the most embarrassing moments to occur at the most improper times and mealtimes is no exception.

Toddlers are should not be expected to act like adults. They are simply adults in training and patience is key. Asking my toddlers to not throw food, spill their juice, or talk loudly is a good start, but I have found certain guidelines can help create a more peaceful mealtime:

• Ask your little one for help in setting the table.
• Lead by example to show appropriate table manners.
• Promote them to sit in the big chair instead of the high chair; this may make them feel more inclined to imitate your behavior.
• Explain why it’s important to follow good table manners; food is for eating.
• Present their meals into east-to-eat ways such as finger foods.
• Don’t pay attention to the food on the floor.
• Compliment your toddler when they present good table manners.
• Reward them with cool stickers if they are well behaved.

Nevertheless, it takes time to master fine motor skills needed to eat neatly with a spook and fork. It’s important to know the stages of your toddler’s development, so you don’t set high expectations.