Funny Face Toast

We're kicking off All About Me week with a snack that's really just an excuse to be silly. Your little one builds a face on a piece of toast, then eats it. Eyes first or nose first? That's up to them.

This one is a regular at our kitchen table. It takes about ten minutes, uses whatever is already in the fridge, and somehow a banana-slice smile gets eaten faster than a plain banana ever does.

What you need

• 1 slice of bread, a rice cake or half an English muffin

• A spread to act as the "glue": cream cheese, hummus, yogurt or a thin layer of nut or seed butter

• Face pieces. Pick 3 or 4:

  • Banana slices or cucumber rounds for eyes

  • Blueberries (smashed flat) or raisins for pupils

  • A strawberry slice or a baby carrot for the nose

  • Apple slices or a thin pepper strip for the smile

  • Shredded cheese or grated carrot for hair

How to make it

1. Toast and cool. Toast the bread lightly, then let it cool so little fingers can handle it.

2. Spread the glue. Let your child spread the topping with a butter knife or the back of a spoon. It doesn't need to be neat.

3. Set out the parts. Put each face piece in its own little pile or a muffin tin. Choosing is half the fun.

4. Build the face. Ask, "Where do the eyes go? How many eyes do you have?" Then let them place everything themselves, even if the nose ends up on the forehead.

5. Name it and eat it. Give your face a name. Ours have included "Mr. Surprised" and "Grandma Banana."

Why we love it

This snack sneaks in a lot of learning. Your child names face parts, counts eyes and ears, and practices the careful pinch grip they'll later use to hold a crayon. It's also a fun follow-up to Monday's episode. Ask your child to make the toast look like them, then like you, then like a pet.

Make it your own

• Emotions: Make a happy face, then flip the smile into a frown for a sad one. Ask, "What makes you feel sad?"

• Family faces: Make one toast for each person at the table.

• No bread: Use a plate of hummus or a big round cracker as the base.

A quick safety note: For kids under 4, halve or flatten small round foods like blueberries and grapes, and cut carrots into thin strips instead of chunks. Swap spreads for anything your family avoids.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Crayola jumbo crayons

• 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.