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You are here: Home / At Home / Parenting / Encouraging Toddler Independence at Snack Time

November 19, 2013 By Chelsey 12 Comments

Encouraging Toddler Independence at Snack Time

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Over the years I’ve developed a system of managing toddler snacks at home that’s worked really well for us. Not only does it encourage healthy eating habits, but it also helps toddlers begin to learn independence skills. For this week’s life skills themed Discover & Explore linky, I’m excited to share how we manage snacks for kids at home. (Be sure to link up your life skills themed posts at the end of this post!)

 Encouraging Toddler Independence with Snack Time~ Buggy and Buddy

Toddler Independence

Theo’s favorite phrase right now is “I do it!” He’s right at the age where he wants to try everything on his own. Although I sometimes feel a teeny bit of sadness that he is not my little baby anymore, I’m just so proud of how much he’s growing and am amazed at all the confidence he’s gaining as he tries new things.

As Theo shows an interest in something, it’s important to me that I help provide ways to help him gain practice in it.  So I knew it was the perfect time to provide him with an easy way to be involved in getting his morning and afternoon snacks just as I had done with Lucy.

How I Set Up Our Snack System

 This method for toddler snacks is really so easy to set up and actually saves me time during my day. As I’m packing Lucy’s school lunch in the morning, I also take out Theo’s snack tray. I put about 4-5 healthy snack choices on it.

How I Manage Toddler Snacks at Home~ Buggy and Buddy

I then place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator where Theo can access it easily on his own. 

How I Manage Toddler Snacks at Home~ Buggy and Buddy

When it’s time for his morning snack, Theo gets one of his plates or bowls (from a low drawer where we keep them) and goes to the refrigerator. He’s allowed to choose two of any of the snack choices he wants from his snack tray. He takes them to the table and eats. He does the same thing for his afternoon snack, choosing two snacks from the remaining choices on the tray.

How I Manage Toddler Snacks at Home~ Buggy and Buddy

I love how selecting and getting his own snack is allowing him to have some choice in his eating habits and helping him practice important early life skills. And it also saves me time~ since I’ve prepared all his snacks first thing in the morning, I don’t need to do it during the day. 

Getting a Drink

I’ve also placed a little water pitcher on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for him to use to get water when he’s thirsty. He gets a cup (from the same drawer as his bowls and plates) and pours his own cup of water from the pitcher. Using the water pitcher takes quite a bit of practice, and you have to be okay with water spills. Theo’s learned to get a paper towel or dishcloth when he spills and wipe it up on his own. And it helps to not fill the pitcher all the way up with water, that way spills won’t be huge. 

How I Manage Toddler Snacks at Home~ Buggy and Buddy

He feels so proud when he gets his own snack, and I love that it gives him that extra practice in independence that he’s so interested in developing. As he gets older, I’ll involve him more in choosing his own snacks for the tray. 

Encouraging Toddler Independence with Snack Time~ Buggy and Buddy

Do you have any tips for managing snack time for toddlers or young children?

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Now it’s your turn! We’d love for you to share how you 

Discover and Explore: Life Skills!

Upcoming Themes:

Currently Open– Life Skills

November 27th– Gifts

December 4th– December Holidays

December 11th– Indoor Games & Play

December 18th– Winter

   

Please read the following guidelines for sharing:

  • Share family-friendly posts related to the weekly topic — kids activities, crafts, recipes, nature outings, printables, etc.
  • By linking up, you are giving me permission to share your post including one photo in our weekly feature post and on social media channels.
  • Visit 2-3 other posts that have linked up, find some new ideas & meet new friends!
  • If you’d like, grab a button for your post — we love to share and want to find lots of great activities to highlight for you!

The linky will remain open for one week. Then all five co-hosts will feature activities in a separate post the Friday after the linky closes. All featured posts will be shared on the Discover and Explore Pinterest Board.  (Be sure to follow so you don’t miss any features!)

Don’t forget to follow all my amazing co-hosts to see what they’re sharing this week!

KC Edventures

Fantastic Fun and Learning

Twodaloo

Teach Preschool

  

Discover and Explore

 


Filed Under: Parenting, toddler, Toddler Play Tagged With: parenting, toddlers

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Comments

  1. Erica Diehl says

    November 20, 2013 at 10:10 am

    LOVE THIS! Thank you for sharing!!! My son is 27.5 months and I think he is ready for a little more independent self serving skills!
    Blessings to you!

    Reply
  2. Angela says

    November 21, 2013 at 6:43 am

    I love this idea, such a great way to foster independence! I found this post at the Kids co-op. I would love it if you shared a post at my new link-up: http://www.joyfocusedlearning.com/2013/11/anything-goes-link-up-1.html

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    November 26, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    This is a must. While they are in the “I can do it” phase, get them doing it! I have those sun tea style jugs with a spigot in the refrigerator that allows my kids to dispense their own water. If the milk I get wasn’t so expensive I might decant it into the jugs too! But it would be gone too soon if I did.

    Reply
  4. h. says

    December 4, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    Just came accros your post, Love the idea of letting them choose their own snack and get a water. I get my boy 29month to prepare bowls and cereals for breakfast for himself and his little sister. this saved me lots of headache with I want breakfast now as he has things to do before I get the milk warmed up for them. Now snack time will be sorted too, thank you.

    Reply
  5. Ashley says

    March 25, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    This is such a cute idea! I wanted to let you know I featured your link on a post I’m doing about toddlers. Thanks for this great idea!

    http://www.co-and-mom.blogspot.com

    Reply
  6. Renee says

    June 9, 2014 at 6:54 am

    All looks super and lovely for independence – I’d just like to warn against using glass. A plastic pitcher and sturdy-standing plastic cup would be preferable – in an instant nasty things can happen with glass. Lovely post – thank you.

    Reply
  7. sayra says

    February 17, 2015 at 9:50 pm

    how old is theo?

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      February 19, 2015 at 2:38 pm

      Hi Sayra- In this post Theo was almost 2 1/2.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tips for Teaching Kids to Get Dressed says:
    November 29, 2013 at 2:00 am

    […] Encouraging Toddler Independence at Snack Time (Buggy and Buddy) […]

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  2. Teaching Life Skills Through Play says:
    November 29, 2013 at 6:05 am

    […] Encouraging Toddler Independence at Snack Time (Buggy and Buddy) […]

    Reply
  3. 4 Important Life Skills to Teach Young Children - Buggy and Buddy says:
    December 30, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    […] really enjoyed reading all the helpful posts linked up to last week’s life skills themed Discover & Explore linky! Today I’m going to feature a few posts from last week […]

    Reply
  4. Empowering Kids to Make Good Decisions - All Done Monkey says:
    November 8, 2017 at 5:57 am

    […] you want a turkey sandwich or yogurt for lunch?” For another example, check out this genius hack for toddler snack time! The child feels empowered because he is getting his snack all by himself, and the mom can feel […]

    Reply

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Welcome to Buggy and Buddy! I'm Chelsey, a former teacher and parent living on the central coast of California. I love sharing crafts, science, STEM and STEAM activities, free printables and more! Read More…

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