We practice family-style dining for all meals by bringing the main and side dishes to the table in serving bowls; this allows the children to serve themselves!
The goal of family-style dining is for children to develop self-help skills, social skills, empower them to make their own food choices and create pride and ownership of the food they are eating. Children are encouraged to serve food portions and pour milk for themselves and occasionally for friends too, improving their social and fine motor skills.
Our teachers consciously encourage family style dining by having meals with the children- just as a family does at home. At every table a teacher sits with the children. Teachers role model by modelling table etiquettes and mindfully engaging in positive conversations, while eating with the children. The children interact with their peers by taking turns, asking one another to pass the serving bowl or requesting for more of a particular food. Many a fun moments are captured everyday during these home like meal times.
By dining together as a cohesive group, with both their peers and teachers, children look around and see the members of the group enjoying the food, which makes them much more likely to try it too! In addition to creating a supportive meal environment, family style dining promotes the tradition of enjoying conversation and healthy nutritious food together. At the end of the meal, Rothewood children scrape their own plates and help with clean-up. Try this at home! You’d be amazed at how accomplished and capable your little people are!
