Mealtime Independence

Give your child the opportunity to develop their independence around mealtimes so they can get used to it before school.

Mealtimes at school are fun and sociable times. It is often a space where children have the freedom to chat and learn more about each other.

In Reception class children will:

  • Put their own straw into a milk carton.
  • Drink from a cup that doesn’t have a lid.
  • Carry items from the kitchen hatch to their table.
  • Peel their own fruit such as oranges and bananas.

Being able to feed themselves will boost your child’s confidence.

Top Tip

Try and sit at the table to eat together as often as you can.

Activities to Help Your Child

There are lots of fun activities you can do to help your child build their confidence at mealtimes.

Try the activities below!

Mealtimes

Try to encourage your child to eat meals themselves and to use a knife, fork and spoon. Encourage them to use their fork to hold the food still whilst you model cutting with a knife.

Try different foods so that they can choose what they would like at school.

Scooping and pouring

Put out a spoon, some empty bowls and some bowls of cereal, dried pasta or rice. Let your child spoon the mixture from one to the other.

Pouring games with jugs, cups and water in the bath or at the sink are a fun way to practise.

Ask questions

Ask your child to describe their food and what it looks, smells, and tastes like.

This can help them build more confidence around identifying and eating food.

Self serve

Encourage your child to serve themselves by pouring their own water or filling their own plate with food.

This will make them feel more in control of the situation.

Top Tip

Be patient! Spills will happen. Give them time to try and do things for themselves.

Handy Videos

These videos offer more ideas on how you can boost your child’s confidence at mealtimes.

This page is part of our Ready Steady School series, designed to help your little one make the most of their start to school life.

You might also find these other topics useful:

  • Recognising your name
  • Personal hygiene
  • Making choices
  • Listening and attention
  • Talking
  • Hand and finger strength
  • Getting dressed
  • Talking about your feelings