Also, due to growth spurts and competing interests, a preschooler's appetite varies from day to day. Provide a clean, comfortable environment with appropriate utensils. It is important for the child to have a place at a table that is appropriate for his or her size. If available, child-size furniture is desirable. Provide children with utensils that they can handle.
Many children are slow in learning how to handle eating utensils correctly.
Children learn to eat with utensils through encouragement, praise, and practice, not force or punishment. Plan regular meal and snack times and eat together. Because of their small stomachs and short attention spans, preschool children like to snack. Most preschoolers eat four to five snacks or meals each day. Plan snacks as you do meals, as snacks can be an excellent way to get needed nutrients into a child's diet.