Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Health and Physical Development (HPD)

Subdomain: Self-Care

Goal: Children develop independence in caring for themselves and their environment.

Skill Progression: Eating/drinking

Age: 21-24 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 21-24 Months.

Observe the child during snack with a travel cup with a straw and a pudding or applesauce cup with a pull top.

The adult has an empty water bottle and asks the child to take off the lid to put water in it. (Make sure lid is not on too tight.) Adult starts to pull the lid off the snack cup, then stabilizes it so the child can finish opening it.

Feels food on the outside of the lips and uses the tongue to swipe food off.

The child is developing the ability to use hands together, use wrist rotation, and lip and tongue movements in eating and drinking skills. These skills make mealtimes neater, faster, and more independent. Use a shorter straw and cup if the child has difficulty sucking up a long straw. Early childhood educators and parents can model using their tongues to clear their lips, so the child will model.