Parenting at Mealtime & Playtime
Parent Handout – 5-6 Years
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Fast Facts:
- Plan a dinner with your child using foods from all 5 food groups
- Serve vegetables first when your child is most hungry
- Limit sweetened drinks, offer milk at mealtime
- Water first for thirst between meals
- Trust your child’s appetite and limit snacking between meals
- Offer a variety of textures, flavors, and colors
- Comfort and reward your child with hugs and words
- Do not use food as a comfort, reward or bribe
- Serve the same food as the rest of the family
- If other adults provide childcare, know what your child is eating and drinking
- Pack healthy snacks when on the go, like cut up vegetables and fruit
Videos:
How to Handle an Already Established Picky Eating – Dina Rose, PhDTeaching Children to be Good Tasters – Dina Rose, PhD
Ways to Positively Impact a Child’s Diet – Dina Rose, PhD
5 Years Old: NutritionAfter School Snacks
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Fast Facts:
- At least one hour of active play per day: riding a bike, skipping, dancing, jumping and running are all great activities
- Make play an important part of your family routine
- Limit screen time – no screens in child’s room
- Free play is important – play outside whenever possible
- Hopscotch and Hide & Seek are fun new games to play together
- Cardboard boxes can make fun tunnels for your child to crawl through
Videos:
5 Years Old: Play
Resources:
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Fast Facts:
- Help your child learn the names of different body parts
- Play with your child – throw and catch balls and teach them to skip
- Everything your child is learning and experiencing prepares them for kindergarten
- Continue to foster cooperative play – allow your child to play in small groups with children his/her age
- Eat family meals at the table, share what you are eating – don’t rush through meals
- Make mealtime fun – a messy mealtime is to be expected.
- Your child will love to talk about the things they have learned – family meals are the best times to chat without distractions
- Telling jokes and making your kid laugh is a great way to bond
- Read to your child daily and allow them to “read to you”
- Sleeps 11-13 hours daily
Videos:
How to Handle an Already Established Picky Eater – Dina Rose, PhDWays to Positively Impact a Child’s Diet – Dina Rose, PhD
Common Myths Among Parents – Dina Rose, PhDTasting Time: Things to Try With Picky EatersFamily Meal TimeFamily Play Time
Healthy Sleep Habits: Getting Ready for Nap
Little Helpers
Child-Friendly Activities
Reading to Your Child
Resources:
Your Child at 5 Years – See What Most Children Do at this Age – A Handout from the CDC
Sweetened Drinks Should Not Be Part of Daily Routine