Toddler Easter Baskets
Easter 2010: Toddler Time
With the holidays, there is always the deluge of sweets. No matter the holiday and no matter if its cakes, cookies, chocolates or candies, the treats are bountiful, which, for the parent of a toddler can be particularly challenging as we try to teach and reinforce healthy eating habits. Here are some tips that have helped with the first holidays.
Do not let others get to you. Reinforcing and teaching healthy eating habits is a continual process and the gifts of sweets from friends and family are not undermining your efforts, but offer an excellent opportunity to teach gracious manners and self control.
Make your child’s Easter basket with them and talk about the items as they are put inside. These do not have to be deep theological discussions, but a way to peek the child’s interest.
Do not worry about changing or creating your own celebration. Instead of candy, try fresh carrots and fruit. Color the Easter eggs with crayons rather then trying to work with a toddler and bowls of dye.
Draw pictures to put in the baskets, and fill the reusable plastic eggs with crayons or toys, always being aware of possible choking hazards. Use the holiday as a way to introduce a new interest with dance or tap shoes.
The holidays are not just about the sweets, but can also be about introducing the traditions to your toddler. Not an easy endeavor, as it maybe the first family gathering, or formal church gathering that the toddler has attended.
Dress your child appropriately for their activity level, if you have a climber or a tumbler the best looking clothes are not always the most practical. Also dress yourself in a manner that will allow you to keep up with your child.
Do not be afraid to leave. If it is the dinner time prayer or the sermon at your local church, inappropriate outbursts from your child can be embarrassing, and need to be handled immediately. Teach your child by taking them out of the situation, and only return when they have significantly calmed down. And repeat the process as often as necessary.
Be aware of the changes the holiday creates in your toddler’s meal schedule. Many holidays have meals that are at times different from the daily routine, and with a toddler that needs to be monitored to help control outbursts due to hunger, or disinterest during the meal. If they would rather play then eat, let them.
Healthy eating habits and observation of traditions takes time and patience, and neither is built or destroyed in a single day. To get the most out of the Easter holiday, have fun, try to not get frustrated if your toddler does not get it, but try again next year. Consistency in the end will bring you and your toddler together for many holidays to come.
