76 t e a c h i n g e v e r y d a y a c t i v i t i e s
To help your child learn to eat by herself
When she is learning to drink from a cup,
first let her feel the cup and the liquid
inside. Then let her hold the cup and
smell the liquid as you guide it to her
mouth. Encourage her to take a sip of
liquid. Finally, help her set the cup back
down in the same place.
Where’s your mouth?
The food goes
straight to your
mouth, Meliza.
Your child will eat best if
she is sitting up straight.
When your child begins to pick up foods
with her hands, let her feel and smell
the food. At first she may need a lot of
help putting the food in her mouth, but
slowly she will be able to do more herself.
Help your child learn to use the eating tools — spoons, or chopsticks, or
fingers — your community uses. Teach her how to hold the tool, how to
pick up the food, and how to bring the food to her mouth. Slowly give
less and less help. Sit behind her as you guide her hand. Be patient. Your
child will be messy at first. It usually takes a year or more for a child to
become good at these skills.
Even after your child begins using
eating tools, let her touch the
food so she knows what the
foods are and where they are in
her bowl. It also helps to put
her food and drinking cup in
the same place at each meal.
Your beans are on
the right, and the
rice is on the left —
just like always.
helping children who are blind