Edible Man

Today your little one builds a whole person, from head to toe, out of snack food. It's a body-parts lesson you can eat, and it always ends in giggles when someone takes the first bite out of a leg.

What you need

Mix and match what you have:

• Head: a rice cake, round cracker, orange slice or small pancake

• Body: a slice of bread, a tortilla folded in half, or a cheese slice

• Arms and legs: banana halves, cheese sticks, pretzel rods, cucumber spears or celery (thin)

• Hands and feet: grapes cut in quarters, crackers, or apple slices

• Face and details: raisins, shredded cheese for hair, a strawberry slice for a mouth, pepper strips for a belt

How to make it

1. Lay out the parts. Put each food in its own pile and name it: "These can be arms. These can be legs."

2. Start with the head. Ask, "What's at the very top of your body?" Place the head at the top of the plate.

3. Build down. Add the body, then ask your child where the arms go, then the legs. Point to their own body as you go.

4. Add the details. Eyes, nose, mouth, hair, belly button. How many fingers? You don't need all ten, but it's a good time to count!

5. Eat it in order. "First we eat the feet!" Name each part as it disappears.

Why we love it

Building a body in order (head, body, arms, legs, feet) helps toddlers understand that bodies have a pattern, and that their own body works the same way. It's great vocabulary practice too. By the end, most kids can point to their elbow and knee without help.

Make it your own

• Make yourself: Use foods that match your child's hair color or favorite shirt color.

• Make the family: A big snack person for a grown-up, a tiny one for the baby.

• Move it: Bend the banana arms up high, like the person is cheering.

A quick safety note: For kids under 4, quarter grapes lengthwise, cut cheese sticks and hard veggies into thin strips, and skip whole nuts and popcorn.

Shop these items

Find the books and supplies from this week in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Shop everything for Week 1: All About Me

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our All About Me activities, Letter A activities and Number 1 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.