8mo–20mo10 minMealtimeFamily timeQuiet time
Mealtime Mini-Skills: Fingers, Spoon, Cup
During a normal meal, help your child practise self-feeding in tiny steps: picking up soft finger foods, trying a pre-loaded spoon, and taking small sips from a cup with close supervision.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a safe seat at the table (highchair/booster or on your lap)
- a bib or cloth
- soft, age-appropriate finger food pieces
- a toddler spoon
- a small cup with a small amount of water or milk
- towel for wipes/spills
Nice to have
- a suction bowl or non-slip mat
- a second spoon (one for you, one for your child)
- a small open container for finger foods
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneFeeds self with fingersBody· 11mo–16mo· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneFeeds self with spoonBody· 12mo–2.1y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneHolds and drinks from a cupBody· 15mo–18mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestonePincer grasp for small objectsBody· 8mo–12mo· core
- MilestoneUses objects functionallyMind· 10mo–15mo· core· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· stretch
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Treat mealtimes as an opportunity to help children to use fingers, spoon and cup to feed themselves.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)