M is for Mealtime InteractionsI wrote about food in child care previously but see mealtime interactions as a separate and equally important issue. Mealtimes in a quality child care centre provide for a relaxed, social environment and the promotion of good nutrition and healthy eating habits, both of which are important to growth and development in childhood and later life.
Centres should;
- Schedule regular times for meals and snacks that meet the needs of the children
- Create a relaxed and pleasant social environment at mealtimes
- Respect the children’s choices
Centre staff should promote positive ‘food-related behaviours’ at mealtimes, including;
- Eating together as a social experience
- Sitting and interacting whilst eating
- Offering new food to try regularly
- Providing healthy meals and snacks with a few choices
- Letting children choose what to eat (from the healthy choices offered) and how much
- Developing appropriate table manners
- Encouraging children to stay at the table and talk or provide quiet activities for children who may finish eating more quickly than others
To achieve this, staff should;
- Sit with the group so as to guide conversation
- Encourage the children in social talk amongst their group
- Eat some food offered with the children
- Remain calm and accommodate the children’s increasing self-feeding skills and some ‘messiness’
- Encourage a timely pace but not overly rush children
- Positively encourage children to try a small sample of a new food first to minimize wastage
It is important that the mealtime environment is pleasant and relaxed. This type of setting greatly contributes to the children’s enjoyment of mealtimes. Strategies a Centre may utilise to achieve this include;
- Tables for small groups of children to sit together
- Opportunities for children to assist in setting up and clearing away the meal environment, in line with their skills and interest
- Utensils of a size and style appropriate to the development of the child to encourage self feeding skill development
- Serving bowls with food and drink in small jugs that children can serve themselves with assistance from staff when needed
- Safe areas for children to stack used plates, cutlery and cups
- Scheduled mealtimes to provide continuity and assurance for children with some flexibility for special activities, the weather and children’s individual needs
- Effectively managed transitions and routines to minimise children’s waiting times for food
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Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
I have been in some centres where talking isn't allowed/promoted and then once I took over the room, I would sit with the children and start conversations. Showing them that socialising is something that we can do during meal times too.
Great post!