Table manners

[SophandFlo]

I have two girls age 5 and 2, they couldn't be more different in behaviour!

My 5 year old is placid, shy and a little hesitant in new adventures but my 2 year old is fearless and reckless (comes of having an older sibling I'm sure.

My issue is table manners. I know she is two and still essentialy a baby but I am not sure how best to deal with the food and cutlery throwing, the shoving of the plate when HER meal is over and how to stop the constant wiggling in her seat. Mealtimes at the moment are hard work and not a pleasurable experience. I often remove her from the table and talk about sitting on the step for calm time but she just ignores this and often starts climbing up the chairs and onto the table and proceeds to try and dance on it.

Do I just have to ride this one out and should I stop trying to be so harsh with a two year old? Advice please.

2 is very little. I have trouble imposing order on my 3 who are 7, 5 and 3. Make sure she's hungry when she sits down (no snacks between meals), serve up straight away, have all the courses ready before you start (ie don't expect her to sit there while you chop fruit after she's finished her fish fingers or whatever) and let her get down straight away when she's finished. If she's really hungry she's likely to eat something before she starts chucking stuff around, and as soon as she does start, just take those things away without comment.

Try to be calm and always to follow the same routine. She is also old enough to lay the table, which might make her feel more big and responsible. Mine had table laying responsibilities at nursery from about 18 months on.