Heidi gave me some great ideas on helping with meal times a while back. I loved the placemat idea for teaching kids where to put their plates/cups, napkins etc. I have one little girl though who really struggles to sit still ever. haha Meal time included...she wiggles constantly. She stays on her bottom, but she is twisting, turning, arms up, arms down, very dramatic in conversation etc. She is almost 2. She drops her cups/silverware many times every meal. I feel like all I do is pick up and replace her spoon. And with 3 meals a day that can be many extra pairs silverware. She is not throwing them. She holds them in her hand and actually eats well with them, but she moves so much that swinging her arms around she actually drops them like 3-5 times a meal. Same thing with her cup. She's not knocking it off the table. She is holding it while she gestures wildly and drops it. I've told her lately I'll only pick it up once and then she's done with it. But if I do that with silverware she will end up eating with her fingers every meal which is just gross. Should I move her from the table and she's just done if she can't hang on to them? Am I making too big a deal out of it? Its just frustrating and then I'm up 5 times each meal when I'd really like to sit and eat with them calmly to model good manners.

Reply