Food provides nourishment for your child, but it can also be used to spark the imagination and wonder the senses. One of your most important responsibilities as a parent is to teach your children good nutrition skills, says Kids Health. Introducing food in a fun way can teach your child about different food options and encourage him to try new things. Make sure to play these games away from the kitchen table to teach your child that food is fun but mealtime is not the time to play games.
Painting With Pudding
This game is a fun way for your child to get creative with food. Sheila Ellison, author of "365 Games Smart Toddlers Play: Creative Time to Imagine, Grow and Learn," writes that all you need for this game is a package of instant pudding and food coloring. Mix the pudding as the box instructs and separate the mixture into several different bowls. Add the food coloring to make a variety of different colors for your child to paint with. You can place your child in the bathtub and encourage him to paint his body, the tub and the walls. Ellison says that he can also paint on his highchair tray, a large piece of paper or a cookie sheet. Encourage him to mix colors and get creative as he plays this game.
Eating Contests
Many children love the thrill of competition and eating contests will encourage your child to try new foods as she competes. You can see who can eat a food or drink a beverage the fastest says Bruce Fife, author of "The Birthday Party Business: How to Make a Living As a Children's Entertainer." You can encourage your child to try new foods by using them in the contest. Other ideas include stringing apples, hanging them and seeing who eats them the fastest without using their hands or playing a game of bobbing for apples, says Fife.
Building With Rice
Ellison suggests cooking a large batch of rice and letting it cool. Place a clean tablecloth on the floor and dump the rice onto the floor. Provide your child with a variety of different cups, utensils and dishes and encourage him to build things with the rice. Another suggestion that Ellison offers is to give your child a rolling pin and cookie cutters and show him how to roll the rice and cut it with cookie cutters. Your child can also form the rice into balls or squish it between his fingers.
References
- Kids Health: Kids and Food: 10 Tips for Parents
- "365 Games Smart Toddlers Play: Creative Time to Imagine, Grow and Learn"; Sheila Ellison; 2006
- "The Birthday Party Business: How to Make a Living As a Children's Entertainer" Bruce Fife; 1998
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