Spoon Explorer
Child attempts to self-feed using a spoon or hands during a real meal. Parent observes whether the child reaches for the spoon, loads food, and gets it to their mouth — even with significant spillage. Covers early self-feeding milestones at 12-18mo. Three phases: natural meal observation, spoon offer, and self-direction.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Set out a bowl of soft, scoopable food — yoghurt, porridge, soft mashed food. Put a child-sized spoon in or next to the bowl. Do NOT spoon-feed during the observation. A suction bowl prevents the bowl sliding away. A bib and surface protection are sensible.
How it works
- 1~60s
Just put the food in front of your child and wait. Does they reach in with hands? Pick up pieces of food and bring them to their mouth? Do their fingers go INTO the mouth, or just touch the lips? Tell me how your child approaches it — and roughly how much makes it in.
Watch for: Child self-feeds using hands or fingers independently
- 2~60s
Now put the spoon in your child's hand — or let them reach for it. Don't load it yourself. Does your child try to use it to scoop? Try to get food on it? Even if they puts the empty spoon in their mouth, note that. Tell me everything you see.
Watch for: Child attempts to use a spoon for self-feeding
- 3~90s
For the last few minutes of the meal — stay out of it completely. Don't offer food, don't redirect the spoon, don't wipe until the end. Does your child continue feeding {himself_herself} without your involvement? Does they look to you when stuck, or figure it out? Tell me.
Watch for: Child sustains self-feeding without adult input