Understand and Parent Your Preschooler

Preschooler Preschooler Understand and Parent Your Preschooler

Understand and Parent Your Preschooler Your preschooler wants to grow up to be just like you and get better at all that he does—including eating. He can be on his own for short times, do what you want and keep out of trouble. But he is still a child and depends on you for opportunities to learn, support and guidance in how behave. He always does better when you are there. Regular family meals and structured snacks between times give your preschooler the support and guidance he needs to learn and grow. Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding The parent is responsible for the what, when and where of feeding. The child is responsible for how much and whether of eating. Your Child’s Growth and Development Your preschooler wants to get better at all that he does—including eating. He learns in little steps. He thinks you know everything and he needs you to show him what he needs to learn. He wants to please you. He needs to know you approve. How to Parent Your Preschooler Provide both structure and trust. Pay attention when he does things right, not just when he does things wrong. Continue to offer guidance even though he can be trusted to keep himself safe without you for short periods of time. How to Parent Your Preschooler with Respect to Feeding Have meals. Have them about the same times every day. Give sit-down snacks at set times. Sit with him and eat your own food. Be good company. Let him serve himself and eat his way—fast or slow, much or little, 1 or 2 foods. Let him dish out his food. Encourage him to take small amounts—2 or 3 tablespoons. Let him have more of any food if he wants. Teach him to behave so you can have a nice meal. Excuse him when he is done. Make food you enjoy and expect that sooner or later he will learn to eat most things. For a comprehensive set of educational materials that teach stage-related feeding and solve feeding problems, see ELLYN SATTER'S FEEDING IN PRIMARY CARE PREGNANCY THROUGH PRESCHOOL: Easy-to-Read Reproducible Masters (4th grade reading level, English and Spanish) and ELLYN SATTER'S NUTRITION AND FEEDING FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN: Handout Masters (7th grade reading level, English only). Copyright © 2005 by Ellyn Satter. For more about feeding your toddler, see Ellyn Satter’s Child of Mine; Feeding With Love and Good Sense or www.EllynSatter.com For permission to reproduce this handout, call (800)808-7976 or e-mail info@ellynsatter.com

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Ellyn Satter Associates
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