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Mealtime for baby

Came across this on YouTube:


Now, this is a mom with good instincts. Some of us who grew up without younger siblings or poor parenting have to start from scratch to rethink how to do things with our own.

Here is what is great about this lunch scenario:

1) Lincoln is feeding himself - which encourages independence. Later he will learn to use a spoon, but the hand-to-mouth control will be already established.

2) Lincoln is having lots of practice with pincer grasp - which is vital to his later ability to wield a pencil or pen. The earlier this practice comes, the better - and food is a great motivator to practice :)

3) I like the way the mom handled it when Lincoln banged the plate - simply removing it. After a few repeats of this, he'll learn that plates aren't for banging.

4) Mom is carrying on a conversation. Mealtime is about so much more than eating - it's about social interaction and good feelings and loving the people in your family. This kind of early focus sets up a pattern for later on - when you will reap the blessing of having your teens and adult children linger at the table, wanting to talk with you.

I loved this video! Thanks for sharing!

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