Ideas and Innovations In Early Childhood Education and Care is a think tank based in Watertown Massachusetts founded by Theodore (Teddy) Kokoros in 2018. All researchers and contributors to Ideas and Innovations In Early Childhood Education and Care are either teachers or parents of young children. While early childhood education and care is getting more attention from politicians and the media, too often those shaping policy and discussions related to early childhood education and care are not the people who are more directly involved with the work. This think tank’s goal is to share the research and perspectives of people who work directly with young children.

May 12

May 12 The High Chair vs. The Hardwood Floor

Teddy Kokoros

When feeding my baby in her high chair, it’s a 50/50 proposition: sometimes she eats, and sometimes she doesn’t. It doesn’t even seem to matter what the food is. From Cheerios and chicken nuggets to bananas and bread, sometimes she’ll eat—and other times, she thinks it’s better to throw the food on the floor.

But here’s the rub: whenever the food is on the floor, she always wants to eat it! It could be a stale, old Cheerio that she knocked off her chair four days ago; if she finds it on the floor, she wants it. Random crumbs are also especially appetizing. She knows we try to prevent her from eating things off the carpet, but that only seems to make the 'floor food' all the more tempting.