Your child will get better using a spoon and fork for meals, and can continue choosing from healthy food options on the table. Give your child water and plain milk instead of sugary drinks or juice.
Ideas for Learning and Growth
How you can help your child’s development:
Involve your child in shopping for groceries and preparing meals. A 3-year-old can help add ingredients, stir, and put pre-cut apples or carrots slices on plates.
Let children take a dip. Children like to play with their food. Healthy dips, such as low-fat salad dressing, salsa, yogurt or hummus make eating fun. Children can dip vegetables, fruits, and even meat!
Close supervision is necessary whenever your child is eating.
Encourage your child to sit or many prefer to stand while eating. Model chewing for your child to prevent choking. Tell your child, “Good job clearing that food, let’s chew more…” when he/she does clear a food using their gag reflex.
Concerns
Don’t Worry. But Don’t Wait.
Should you be concerned? Perhaps. If you are concerned, call right away. If your child is on track, you’ll be reassured. If your child needs assistance, you’ll find out now, when it’s the best time to help!
BuildUpMi.org or dial the Michigan Special Education Line at 1-888-320-8384
Get a developmental screen: the Ages and Stages Questionnaire is a child development screener that allows you to check in on how your child is growing and learning.