No doubt your preschooler mastered drinking from a cup some time ago, but when can she start to pour her own juice or milk? By the time they're 3, most kids have the necessary hand-eye coordination, thanks to activities they do naturally -- such as placing blocks into holes or filling a toy truck with dirt. To help your preschooler develop pouring proficiency:
-- Let her put her hands on yours as you pour from a pitcher. Release the handle slightly (but still hold it), to give her a sense of its weight.-- For her first solo attempt, have her stand at a play table or on a sturdy stool in front of a kitchen counter; the surface of either should be waist-high. Give her a small container, such as an individual-size milk carton or plastic juice bottle, to pour from.
-- Provide her with a sturdy cup to fill: a short, wide-mouthed, heavy-bottomed plastic one.
-- Encourage her to hold the container she's pouring from with both hands for a firm grasp so that she can control it easily.
-- Since her coordination and depth perception are still shaky, avoid an overflow by asking her to pour slowly and stop when the liquid reaches the middle.
This article first appeared in Parenting magazine.
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