Toddlerhood: Routines, Rituals, and Family Meals

Routines and rituals, like family meals, strengthen your child's sense of belonging, boost confidence, and foster connection, supporting their growth and well-being.

Routines and rituals foster your child’s sense of belonging, “This is who we are; this is what it means to be part of this family.” This increases children’s confidence, self- esteem, self-regulation and academic achievement.
Routines support young children’s development as they make children feel safe and secure, which allows them to expand and take on new challenges with greater ease, knowing that they can count on routines to provide them comfort if and when they are dysregulated.
Family meals can serve as a routine and/or ritual. They are a vehicle for connection. It’s the conversation, the connectedness, the eye contact and the physical time together that makes the magic. They also support overall nutrition and health, reducing the risk of obesity and, for older kids, disordered eating.

Share family meals at least 4 times per week. This doesn’t need to be dinner! Sit at the table with your child, and eat while they are eating. Try and have everyone eat the same thing if possible.
Create a ritual for conversation. For example, go around the table sharing something special and something hard from everyone's day. You can help your child remember: “I saw you laugh in music class, and you had a hard time falling asleep for your nap.” Have a dance party before you sit down for a family meal. Getting out some of the energy your toddler has and practicing starting and stopping movement can make it easier for them to settle into meal times.
Sing songs, tell stories, and create memories together. These all support your child's sense of belonging. Avoid screens of any kind or other distractions during meals.
Tell your toddler the stories around holidays and how you celebrate it uniquely. Find opportunities to make it “yours” and define what that celebration means to your family.