They Say You Shouldn’t Talk With Food in Your Mouth ...

... but, Meal Times Should Include Language

Categorize the foods you have at a meal. First have your child name everything on their plate, then ask them which one belongs to the “meat” category, “vegetable” category, “fruit” category, etc. Then ask your child what their favorite food is in a certain category or what their least favorite food is in another category. While targeting conversational turn taking, you will also be working on labeling, categories, stating opinions, and teaching opposites (favorite vs least favorite). After doing this a few times, your child will likely label their foods and ask you questions about your favorites and least favorites!

If you're bilingual and are looking for opportunities to preserve your native language, meal times are a perfect time to converse exclusively in your native language. Bilingual children are often exposed to two languages during the day, therefore establishing a routine and expectations to use only your native language for that time will  provide opportunity for strong language models,  vocabulary, sentence structure, and other language skills.