Encouraging Social Development in a Toddler at Meal Time

Manners

• While you likely can't expect a toddler to conform to and remember all the rules about eating, it's important to start teaching him table manners at a young age. After all, you don't want him to hit grade school without knowing how to use a fork, chew with his mouth closed and use a napkin. Table manners also help your little one learn proper social behaviors when he's sharing a meal with others. Help your toddler wash her hands before eating, keep his napkin on his lap, say "please" and "thank-you," and avoid slurping or burping during the meal, suggests PBS Parents. Remind him to chew and swallow before talking and to keep his arms and feet off the table.

Conversation

• Part of social development is learning to have conversations. Sitting down to a family meal gives each of you a prime opportunity to talk. This teaches your toddler the finer points of a back and forth discussion, where each person talks when her turn comes and people don't try to interrupt or talk over each other. Encourage your toddler to talk about his day, ask him to pass the potatoes or simply let him observe how you talk to your spouse and other children. This boosts his vocabulary and language acquisition skills, while also teaching him how to interact with other people.

Non-Verbal Communication

• Social development involves more than just talking. Nonverbal communication is an important part of learning how to behave around others. Learning to read facial expressions and physical cues helps your toddler understand the emotions and wants of the other people sitting around the table. It also teaches him how to express himself without words. He'll learn to point to the milk when he wants more or he'll understand that dumping salt all over his watermelon results in disapproval from you. Help your toddler by putting words to his nonverbal actions. If he smiles after he eats a bite of chicken, you could mention that the chicken must taste good.

Reinforcement

• Part of teaching your toddler to engage in desired behaviors is to reward them when they happen. If your toddler picks up his spoon and uses it to scoop up his peas, compliment him on his skills. The good feelings that praise produce increase the chances that he'll want to do the same next time you serve peas. At the same time, discipline at the table helps your toddler learn which social behaviors aren't acceptable. If he throws his dinner roll at his sister, remove his plate for a minute or two before letting him try again. Take his plate each time he throws food and chances are he'll learn that he isn't supposed to do that at the table.