 Mealtime Tips for Home and Away
Good experiences at mealtime help children develop positive attitudes toward food and nutrition. These positive attitudes are reinforced when parents and child care providers work together to create consistent mealtime experiences.
Here are some things to keep in mind when talking with your child care provider:
 What's on the menu. Talk about what's for lunch. Does your child have any allergies or likes/dislikes that would affect meal planning? Does your child have opportunities to try new foods?
 Sit down and pass it around. Ask about mealtime routines and compare them to what you do at home. Family-style dining is a great way for your child to learn how to take turns, say please and thank you and develop social skills.
 Let's chat. Mealtime conversations strengthen a child's language and social skills. Does your child have the opportunity to participate in mealtime conversations or are things like TV and toys distracting your child while eating?
 Avoid picky power struggles. You can ease your way though these struggles if you and your child care provider agree that it's OK for your child to skip a meal. It's better to offer a nutritious snack later, than engage in a battle at the plate.
 Get them involved. Stirring, fetching, mashing, counting, sorting and washing during meal preparation builds a child's teamwork skills and helps them feel part of the process.
On-going communication between parents and child care providers can make a child's mealtime an enjoyable experience for eating, socializing and learning.
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Mealtime Learning
These mealtime activities will help children build their social skills and expand their vocabulary.
- Make Believe Restaurant or Tea Party
- Pass the What?
Download the activities |
