How to Encourage Children in

Self-Feeding themselves?
Children often show signs when they reach certain
months of age, that invariably indicates their interest in
self-feeding.

They might try to grab the spoons or other utensils their

parents are holding, or they might reach for food in the
plates or take some random objects and bring them near
the mouth.
When the child shows these signs, start age appropriate
encouragement in aiding them for self-feeding.

Some children with health issues might not show any

interest in self-feeding even after reaching 11 or 12
months of age, this obviously induces panic in parents.
The  best occupational therapists  team are always at
service for the worried parents assisting them with wiser
tips in motivating children in developing self-feeding
skills.

Here are some of useful tips:

 Encourage hand feeding:

Children must be encouraged in using hands properly for

feeding themselves.

In order to expand the skill and mould it in the right way,

parents can place food items in the hair or nearby tray
where children tend to grab.

The child at first will take it with the whole fist and push it
into the mouth.
Then you could
make the food items
small and encourage
them to grab it with
their thumb and
forefinger instead of
using the whole fist.
 Utensil Feeding: 

After successfully working on hand feeding, you could

move the step closer to the utensil feeding by giving them
tools they can hold and handle.

Then using your hands on top of them you could imitate

the motion of taking food from the plate and moving
them straight towards the mouth.
 Stay close during the meal times:

Don’t expect children to eat as soon as you make them

practice self feeding techniques.

You might need to stay close to the child during feeding to

monitor their style of eating, amount of food items put
into the mouth, tolerance with different types and
textures of food items etc.
 Look out for choking: 

When children begin eating on their own, there are

chances that they gag at the beginning.

It is due to the larger amount of food items put into

the mouth or the food portion might have gone to the
back of the mouth.
Gagging is often the reflex signal to remove excess
food from mouth or bring food into the front of the
mouth for chewing, it is perfectly fine, yet choking is
not.

Choking it dangerous as the food particles might be

blocking the airway thus requires immediate
attention.
 Embrace the mess: 
Children equipping themselves with self-feeding
techniques are going to make it really messy.

The mess extends with the floors having fallen food

items, the dress of the child having food stains etc.

Be patient, expect the mess and act accordingly by

providing them aprons or spreading cloth on the floor.
 Have family meals:

 Like all other skills and activities, feeding also modifies

with observation and imitation.

When the child is sitting with other family members,

they tend to notice how others are using their utensils
for eating and imitate it in their own ways.
Conclusion

These are some of the tips that really get in the way of
teaching children how to self-feed themselves.

Make sure that all the food items, utensils etc are age
appropriate.

Thus always have advice and opinions from  best

occupational therapy centers in Ajman  and other places
for a detailed understanding.
THANK  YOU

PRESENTED BY,
Best occupational therapists team