Let your child use utensils during mealtimes to feed himself/herself independently. Learn to accept that independent eating and cleaning up are important problem-solving activities, and that messes are part of the process.
Planning ahead to achieve a goal is solidly present during the second year of life, with the earliest hints of this process beginning in the first year. Studies have found that children learn to solve problems when they interact with objects, such as reaching for a spoon, and then using the spoon to achieve a goal, like finishing various types of foods during a meal. Allowing the child to think independently about how to manipulate various feeding utensils, eat various foods, and clean up after eating, presents manageable problems for the child to solve. Hence, mealtimes are ideal opportunities for children to develop motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
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