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A Unique Child: Nutrition - Get cooking - Different foods

Healthy Living in the Early Years Foundation Stage by Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton includes activities to help promote in young children an interest and awareness of different foods.

ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES

- Cheese and pasta

Context: Once babies are nine to 12 months old they begin to want to explore food in many different ways - smelling, tasting, feeling, and seeing how well it falls to the floor!

When introducing finger foods, once a baby has developed better finger control, use this activity to make the mealtime fun, develop the baby's small motor skills and encourage her to practise eye-hand co-ordination.

What you need:
- cooked pasta shapes
- sticks of mild cheese

Things to do:

- Talk to the baby as you put her into a high chair and wash her hands.
- Put some cooked pasta shapes and some sticks of mild cheese in front
of her.
- Sing this song to the tune of 'Frere Jacques':
Cheese and pasta,
Cheese and pasta
All for you, all for you.
Pop them in your mouth,
Pop them in your mouth.
Yum, yum, yum,
Yum, yum, yum
- Help the baby to pick up the cheese and pasta and carry it to her
mouth.
- Be prepared to be offered some cheese and pasta to eat! Make sure you
show that you enjoy the food you are offered.

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