Zippypedia

01/06/2011

Feeding Time

Feeding is one of the most hotly debated topics in children's upbringing. Furthermore, from the moment they're born, feeding time becomes one of the most significant moments in the child's daily routine.

As a principle, no meals should be skipped or take place off-hours. Instil in him from a young age the importance of sitting at the table and savouring the food one eats. Yet you should lead by example! The table shouldn't be cluttered with toys, books, newspapers, cellphones...when sitting on the table you should talk to one another and savour the meal.

It's fundamental to build a comfortable, inviting environment, particularly when all the family is around during lunch and dinner.

When the child is small but already able to sit, which should happen around the time he turns six months old, put him in a high meal chair that's adequate to his age and adaptable as he grows up. Let him interact directly with food, even if that will certainly lead to some degree of messiness. At first they play more than they eat, don't worry though, that's part of the learning process. You should act preemptively and place a plastic towel on the chair to make cleaning easier. The important is that your child gets the habit of sitting at the table and sharing the moment with the rest of the family.

It's equally important for parents to set the example by sticking to a healthy diet and, when the child gets older, letting him get involved in the preparation of healthy meals, as well as in some kitchen tasks. There are cooking books for children and parents which, when used, can bring about pretty entertaining moments. This way, he'll surely begin to nurture a more positive appreciation for food, become a healthy adult and, who knows, maybe even turn into a five star chef!