Parent: How can I get a 2 yr old to sit and eat his dinner
Jackie Hall: This is a tough one because the reality is that you may not be able to.
At this age, she doesn’t understand enough to know why she needs to sit still and you may be at the mercy of repeating the instruction over and over until she gets it.
If she is continually getting up from the table, keep bringing her back and reinforcing the rule that you have to sit at the table. Model the behaviour and show her that the rest of the family is doing it too. Try to find a reason why your 2 year old would WANT to stay up at the table, perhaps by making it fun or funny to be at the table.
I know it’s difficult, but she is at a learning stage and sometimes we have to battle with our adult minds which thinks our children should know what to do and how to do, because that’s what we would do.
But we’ve had years of practicing these skills. They are still learning how to DO life.
Just keep repeating to yourself, “This too, shall pass.”