N
Fast Facts:
- If breastfeeding, continue to do so
- Let your child feed themselves
- Trust the child’s appetite: let the child decide when they are hungry and when they are full
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating
- Transition to whole milk with meals
- Water first for thirst between meals
- Serve vegetables first when the child is most hungry
- Offer a variety of textures, flavors, and colors
- Avoid juice and drinks with added sugar
Resources:
Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime Handout – 12-24 Months
English – Spanish
N
Fast Facts:
- If breastfeeding, continue to do so
- Let your child feed themselves
- Trust the child’s appetite: let the child decide when they are hungry and when they are full
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating
- Transition to whole milk with meals
- Water first for thirst between meals
- Serve vegetables first when the child is most hungry
- Offer a variety of textures, flavors, and colors
- Avoid juice and drinks with added sugar
Resources:
Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime Handout – 12-24 Months
English – Spanish
P
Fast Facts:
- Encourage daily active play
- Screen time is not recommended
- It is normal for toddlers not to sit for more than 30 minutes
- Play outside and explore the world with your toddler – nature brings new sights and sounds
- Play games that help teach your toddler to take turns and follow rules
- Babbling is talking – talk back and forth with your child and smile
- As your child builds stronger muscle and improves balance, watch them learn to walk, run, climb, jump and throw
- Play games that promote movement
Videos:
12-24 Months: Play 12-24 Months: Play
Resources:
Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime Handout – 12-24 Months
English – Spanish
T
Fast Facts:
- Make mealtime fun – a messy mealtime is to be expected
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating
- Play games that promote movement
- Build your child’s words, talk to them, have a conversation
- Read to your child daily
- Listen for new words every day
- After learning to walk on their own, they will then learn to run, climb, jump and throw
- Watch them learn to feed themselves
- When your child has a tantrum or meltdown, don’t react – turn away for a few seconds and when they calm down, give them lots of attention
- Sleeps about 12-14 hours daily
Videos:
Common Myths Among Parents – Dina Rose, PhD12-24 Months: Play
Family Meal TimeFamily Play Time
Healthy Sleep Habits: Getting Ready for Nap
Reading to Your Child
Resources:
Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime Handout – 12-24 Months
English – Spanish
Active Play Everyday – Tips for Parents and Caregivers – A Handout
