Properly, a mother must always be patient in feeding their children, because of eating not only makes children fulfilled their nutritional needs, but these activities can also be used as a learning experience for toddlers. At the time the child starts talking, eating activities can be used as a means for mothers to teach the concept of taste, expression of taste, color concepts, the concept of texture, the concept of number, and size concepts.
Patience by mothers in performing this activity can facilitate the process of eating and toddlers to develop their insight and knowledge. In terms of eating, the mother or caregiver to act as mediators to introduce various concepts and facts which met the child in his environment. An example is when feeding, the mother can provide information about what to eat, what it’s like, what color, how much, and so forth. Feeding techniques while learning can be done through a few tips:
- Arouse the attention and wants the child to react. Mother took the child to eat and give a sign that the meal has arrived. To attract the attention of children, maternal use of verbal and nonverbal expression, to enable the sensing of children. Mom then took the plate and let the kids hold eating utensils, food, and imitate what the mother said. She was also the name given food, taste, shape, texture, and tightens up with an expression of voice or expression. Repeat this several times.
- Giving praise and raise confidence and competence in children if the child is eating properly. Mothers should not be stingy praise for his son. For example, if he had spent one tablespoon of food, just the mother’s praise of their versatility. Especially when the food can be spent with the neat.
- Get children to plan all activities shall be taken, all actions have demonstrated that patterns of activity in preparing meals, children should also be involved, such as washing hands, preparing food, telling stories about what was done the mother, to clear the table after dinner activity is over. This is done many times, in order to form habits and a healthy diet.
- In order for the learning process becomes much easier and pleasant situation, the mother should also make eye contact with toddlers. In addition, mothers are advised to have a sense of empathy, would give the baby a chance to speak, trying to share a pleasant feeling, and follow what the initiatives and responses of children. Mother or child interactions during feeding intensively this remedy can be used as a means to improve the cognitive abilities of children.