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(Unit 5) Topic 4: Early Childhood Classroom Schedules and Routines

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Lunch or Mealtime

​Topic 4 Page 12

​Mealtimes are a fantastic opportunity for community building and social development, as well as routine support. First, meals are imperative to good health and eating habits for children of all ages. Next, this period of the day can support social development for children by allowing some relaxed time for communication as well as peer and teacher interactions. 

​Having family style meal times can support this social development and interaction as well as build a sense of community within the program. Family style meals are when children and teachers are seated around the same table, or tables, interacting, conversing and getting to know one another. Keeping mealtimes scheduled as usual and making them enjoyable encourage children to trust their caregivers as their basic needs are being met.

​Mealtimes are also building blocks to teaching independence. Older infants and toddlers can use mealtimes as opportunities to develop independence in developing self-feeding skills. Older toddlers can assist in clean up and mealtime preparations as can preschool children. School-agers enjoy mealtimes as a social period but can be relied upon to help with mealtime preparation, clean up and pre-mealtime handwashing. Practicing these skills as part of the regular classroom routine helps to teach children these valuable skills by repetition and repeated exposure.

Mealtime routines also cater to fine motor skill development, healthy food choices, and positive eating habits. Eventually these skills will become mastered and lead to self-sufficiency and healthy choices that come automatically. 

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Video: YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties Child Care - HEPA Family Style Meal Time
Source: YMCA Cass Clay
​Length: 4:13

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