Meal-time routine for children from to three Personal, Social and Communication& Language Mathematics Understanding Expressive Arts Physical Emotional development /Literacy the World & Design Development Activities and what adults do Children find own place Anticipation eg. wonder Using numbers in a Naming and Exploring the Looking at a photo ‘I mats what will be for dinner today’ purposeful way eg, learning about colour / display with the “Would you like 1 or 2 potatoes?” foods, where they textures/smell of children themselves or pass Talking about what’s needed many spoons do we come from (at age foods. “How things to each other e.g. spoons, cup, bibs need?” appropriate level), and who likes what creating fun Helping to fetch the Scrape plates, pour own water Singing songs and rhymes Talking about size & shape rhymes eg, trolley and lay table. etc. (depending on child’s eg, The spaghetti is very Learn about hot & yummy “ “yummy, stage of development) Encourage conversations long” peas are small cold, what happens in my tummy” Develop routines “The during mealtimes and round” I am when certain foods around washing “Today Be positive about food when cutting the bread into mix together. *Imaginary fun hands before eating. serving it Engage in close 1:1 triangle shapes” games eg, “I’m conversations Provide eating frog’s Provide accessible Be aware that children are Encourage children to see opportunities for eyes”(peas) mirrors, flannels and learning about their Provide opportunities for that each person needs children to ask towels. “1 preferences and note how listening and responding plate, 1 knife, 1 fork etc” questions Give children time children respond when offered to use their new foods Respond verbally to children’s Talking about quantity senses to explore “We non verbal signs, signals & have a lot of potatoes foods Serve from table so children noises today” need to ask the “We can see foods and indicate cook for some more bread” what they would like Note and respond to the gestures and words babies / Talking about classifying Ensure that mealtimes are a toddlers use to indicate what the apples are on this “All safe space to develop they would like to eat. plate and all the grapes relationships with peers and are on this one” adults and establish social boundaries. Provide small mealtime groups so children do not have to wait too long to be served. Encourage children’s independence What children learn
Meal-time routine for children from to three Personal, Social and Emotional development Communication& Language /Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts & Design Physical Development Activities and what adults do Children find own place mats themselves or pass things to each other Scrape plates, pour own water etc. (depending on child’s stage of development) Be positive about food when serving it Be aware that children are learning about their preferences and note how children respond when offered new foods Serve from table so children can see foods and indicate what they would like Ensure that mealtimes are a safe space to develop relationships with peers and adults and establish social boundaries. Provide small mealtime groups so children do not have to wait too long to be served. Encourage children’s independence Anticipation eg. ‘I wonder what will be for dinner today’ Talking about what’s needed e.g. spoons, cup, bibs Singing songs and rhymes Encourage conversations during mealtimes Engage in close 1:1 conversations Provide opportunities for listening and responding Respond verbally to children’s non verbal signs, signals & noises Note and respond to the gestures and words babies / toddlers use to indicate what they would like to eat. Using numbers in a purposeful way eg, “Would you like 1 or 2 potatoes?” “How many spoons do we need?” Talking about size & shape eg, “ The spaghetti is very long” “The peas are small and round” “Today I am cutting the bread into triangle shapes” Encourage children to see that each person needs “1 plate, 1 knife, 1 fork etc” Talking about quantity “We have a lot of potatoes today” “We need to ask the cook for some more bread” Talking about classifying “All the apples are on this plate and all the grapes are on this one” Naming and learning about foods, where they come from (at age appropriate level), and who likes what Learn about hot & cold, what happens when certain foods mix together. Provide opportunities for children to ask questions Exploring the colour / textures/smell of foods. creating fun rhymes eg, “yummy, yummy in my tummy” *Imaginary fun games eg, “I’m eating frog’s eyes”(peas) Give children time to use their senses to explore foods Looking at a photo display with the children Helping to fetch the trolley and lay table. Develop routines around washing hands before eating. Provide accessible mirrors, flannels and towels. What children learn