The ABC of Child Care: M is for Mealtime Interactions

M is for Mealtime Interactions

I 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

Missed an ABC of Child Care post? Check out A – L here.