Benefits of Children Eating Mess

Do you start to feel annoyed when your child is seen playing with his food and rarely puts food in his mouth? Calm down, Ma! Even though you feel annoyed and tested for patience according to a study conducted at the University of Iowa, the more often your little one messes up, the more he will learn.

The University of Iowa conducted a study on 74 toddlers aged 16 months which required them to eat 14 non-solid foods, such as applesauce, pudding, juices, and soups. Several children were seated in a chair high and some not.

Toddlers are then introduced to words such as “dax” and “kiv”. A minute later, the toddler is asked to identify the same food in various sizes and shapes. This study proves that children who dare to be dirty, often sit on high chairs, and learn to eat by themselves even though it’s messy, will learn more words than those who don’t. They are expected to be the quicker learners in the long run.

The study, published in the Journal of Developmental Science, concluded that toddlers are played with their food, especially the sticky, mushy, slightly liquid one, it will be smarter. This is because they study food through all the senses, such as touch, taste, taste, and sensory (to throw). This toddler not only recognizes the shape and size of food visually, but also identifies food through its texture.

Even though this food throwing ‘game’ is good for your little one, it doesn’t mean you can let it go. All you have to do is teach him to properly put the food in his mouth. Also, don’t forget to put on a dining apron and cover the table and floor with plastic to make food splashes easier to clean. (Photo: Getty Image)

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