Ideas for Talking With Your Toddler at Mealtime

 "What do I talk to my child about at mealtime when they can't have a full conversation yet?"

This is a great question, and it’s one we get a lot. As a parent, it can be hard to keep the conversation going with your child all day, especially, when they’re too young to talk back to you or if you don’t know what to say.

This post will teach you why it’s important to talk to them before they can talk to you, and it’ll give you ideas and suggestions for what to say to your child at the dinner table tonight!

Your Talking Leads To Their Talking!

If you’re like many of the parents we talk to, you might be wondering why it’s important to talk to someone who isn’t speaking yet themselves (or with someone who is speaking very little). We know it’s not exactly an easy thing to do when you’re used to the easy back-and-forth of adult-to-adult conversation.

But, even though it doesn’t always come easily, we promise that the effort you make to speak with your child before they speak with you is well worth it. Having daily conversations with your baby or your toddler helps them build a strong foundation for language development and learning. By speaking with your child before they can fully participate, you’re helping them to make critical connections in their brain. It’s pretty incredible! 

And, just because your little one isn’t always answering you, it doesn’t mean they aren’t interested. Babies and toddlers will understand many words before they can say them on their own.

Why Mealtime is Perfect for Talking to Toddlers

Mealtimes are great times to talk with babies and toddlers for so many reasons!

New Vocabulary & Language Opportunities

Mealtimes are excellent opportunities for children to learn and experience new things. At the table, children are often exposed to a variety of rich new vocabulary, they learn new things, and they get the chance to participate in conversations! There is research to back this.

Distraction-Free Zone

Kids these days are busy! Sometimes, mealtime is the only part of the day that allows them to sllllow down a bit and come together with everyone else, and without the usual distractions. 

Face-to-Face Connection

Mealtimes are great for sitting face-to-face with your child, which is soooo great as your little one is learning to talk and communicate! Children need to see our faces. They are learning so much by simply watching you. 

Try Making Comments Over Asking Questions

One key thing we often tell parents of toddlers: comments often spark more conversion than questions. 

For kids who are just starting to talk or aren’t talking much yet, questions can be hard to answer and respond to. Some questions can even make kids feel like they’re on the spot which adds pressure. Using comments more often than questions can help make sure that learning to talk never feels like a test.

Here are some ways to integrate more comments into mealtimes. Don’t feel like you have to do all of these at every meal. This is just meant to give you some ideas!

Talk about what they’re seeing, hearing, and experiencing.

“Mmm, the potatoes are hot. Let’s let them cool down.”
“Wow, that dog outside is barking so loudly!
“You’re sitting next to daddy.”

Talk about family plans and daily routines.

This helps your child learn what to expect, and what’s coming up next for them. Plus, it’s a great way to expose them to a wide variety of vocabulary. 

• Chat about what you're going to do that day at breakfast.

• Review the day’s events at dinner.

• Tell simple stories about upcoming or past events and plans. 

Pretend to be animals.

Talk about what animals do and how they eat. Don’t be afraid to get a little silly! 

“I’m going to crunch this carrot like a bunny!”
“I’m a shark and I’m going to munch on this bread.”
“I’m going to try licking it with my loooong giraffe tongue” 

Describe the characteristics of your food.

“This raspberry is a little bit bumpy.” 
“Your tortilla is cut into triangle shapes.”
“The banana smells sweet. Do you want to smell it?”

Make eating sounds. 

Before kids say words, they learn to make sounds! By saying these sounds, you can help your child learn to say them, too.

“Whooo, this oatmeal is hot!”
“Ahhhhhh, a nice cold drink.”
“Yummmm, juicy oranges.”

Use placemats with pictures

We love placemats with pictures because they tend to take the focus off of food while giving little ones something different and fun to chat about. 

We hope these tips help. Happy talking!

Are You a Podcast Lover Like Us?

We were a guest on the Feeding Toddlers Made Easy podcast and spoke with registered dietician, Kacie Barnes, more about talking at mealtime with kids & encouraging communication. Listen here or read the full transcript of the converstaion.

Love learning about what they’re learning about?

Then you’ll love our free baby and toddler talking milestones! These are the exact handouts we bring with us to mom groups, and they’re a big hit because they teach you exactly what skills your child is developing now, plus the ones you can expect will come next!