Five Calm Things to Say at the Table
Free. Five short scripts for toddler dinner moments, with a phrases-to-skip list and a one-week practice.
By Whole Life HQ1 part · about 600 words · printable · read online
Who it's for
Written in plain English for every age.
What problem it helps with: Free. Five short scripts for toddler dinner moments, with a phrases-to-skip list and a one-week practice.
What you receive
- Five calm things to say at the table
Look inside
The first page, word for word.
Part 1: Five calm things to say at the table
Dinner with a toddler can turn into a negotiation, a battle, or a performance. What you say often matters as much as what is on the plate. These five short scripts help you stay calm and keep the pressure low, so the table feels safer for everyone, including you.
The idea behind them
Toddlers are learning to decide things for themselves, and food is one of the few things they control. If we push, they often push back. A simple rule helps: you decide what is served, when and where. They decide whether to eat it, and how much. The scripts below keep both sides of that rule friendly.
1. When they say "I don't like it"
Say: "That's okay. You don't have to eat it. It can stay on your plate."
Why it works: You take away the argument. They are free to refuse, and it costs nothing. Over time, many children try foods they have seen often.
2. When they refuse to try a bite
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1 printable page: see the list
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Written by the Whole Life HQ team.
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