Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime
Parent Handout – 2 Years
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Fast Facts:
- Meals include all 5 food groups, have regular meal times
- Limit snacking between meals so that children are hungry at mealtimes
- Serve vegetables first when your child is most hungry
- Avoid drinks with added sugar
- Offer milk at mealtime
- Water first for thirst between meals
- Picky eating may begin at this age – remember to offer your child healthy choices but allow them to choose what and how much they eat
- Trust your child’s appetite, limit snacking between meals
- Offer a variety of textures, flavors, and colors
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating and name the foods or their colors
- Comfort and reward your child with hugs and words – do not use food as a comfort, reward or bribe
Videos:
Ways to Positively Impact a Child’s Diet – Dina Rose, PhD 2 Years Old: Nutrition Tips
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Fast Facts:
- At least one hour of active play per day: marching, climbing, jumping, and dancing are all great activities
- Free play is important – play outside whenever possible
- Limit screen time – no screens in a child’s room
- Suggested Activities include:
- Go on trips to the local park
- Play run and chase
- Encourage child to walk on lots of different surfaces (floors, grass, sand, etc.)
- Crawl over large cushions
- Join in the fun with your toddler and play along
Videos:
2 Years Old: Play
Resources:
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Fast Facts:
- Read to your child daily
- Enjoy conversations with your child as they learn new words and sentences
- It is normal for children to want to do everything themselves
- Tantrums are normal at this age
- Allow child to help make meals
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating
- Comfort and reward your child with hugs and words
- Do not use food as a comfort, reward or bribe
- Offer vegetables first, when the child is most hungry
- Make mealtime fun. A messy mealtime is to be expected
- Read to your child daily
- Sleeps 12-14 hours daily
Videos:
Ways to Positively Impact a Child’s Diet – Dina Rose, PhDCommon Myths Among Parents – Dina Rose, PhD
2 Years Old: Tips 2 Years Old: TipsFamily Meal TimeFamily Play Time
Healthy Sleep Habits: Getting Ready for Nap
Little Helpers
Child-Friendly ActivitiesReading to Your Child
Resources:
Meals Should Include All 5 Food Groups – A Handout
Video Tips – 2 Years
Your Child at 2 Years – See What Most Children Do at this Age – A Handout from the CDC
