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.

Top Tip

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

Ways to practise at home

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.

Where to start

  • Make some salt dough and add knife and fork to the play.
  • Scooping with rice and pasta– link into role play. Feeding dolls and teddys.
  • Play some carrying games using trays.

Things to try next

  • Make fruit kebabs practice using a knife for cutting skills.
  • Pouring games with jugs cups and water.
  • Play games at the table to encourage sitting at the table for longer periods of time.
  • Choose a recipe from the recipe cards and cook together.

How to adapt

  • Rather than giving your child a whole plate of food to cut up, try leaving them some to do independently.
  • Encourage them to use their fork to hold the food still whilst you model cutting with the knife.
  • If your child is struggling to use a knife and fork, encourage them to scoop their food with a spoon.

Top Tip

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

Helpful links

Books

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Puffin, 2002)
  • Oliver’s Fruit Salad by Vivian French and Alison Bartlett (Hodder Children’s Books, 1998)

This page is part of our Ready Steady School series, helping you and your little one get ready for school.

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