Playing with food is common and even important behavior for babies during their development. This stage may cause parents confusion and sometimes irritation, but for a child, playfully exploring food is an important way of learning about the world.
Babies explore their environment through all their senses, and for them, food is not just a source of nutrition but also material for experimentation. They touch, squeeze, throw, and taste, studying textures, colors, and smells. Playing with food develops motor skills, especially fine motor skills, promotes sensory development, and teaches cause-and-effect relationships.
How should parents respond? First, it’s important to stay calm and understand this is a natural stage. Second, it’s worth setting aside specific times and places for such play, for example, using waterproof tablecloths and allowing the child to experiment with food within acceptable limits.
You can also channel the baby’s interest: offer safe foods of different shapes and consistencies, turn mealtime into a game of exploration and creativity. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude and not immediately prohibit, otherwise the child may experience stress or lose interest in food.
Thus, playing with food is not just an opportunity for fun but an important part of a baby’s development that helps them learn, experiment, and understand the world through taste, color, and texture. Parents should accept this stage with understanding and gently guide it in a constructive direction.