Family-Style Dining in Child Care Settings
Many early childhood programs, including BGCC and CSCC, use the family-style dining model to serve meals to children. Family-style dining is considered a best practice in child care settings for children of all ages. It involves adults sitting at the same table as children in small groups, with children serving themselves when possible, and sharing meals with adults while engaging in pleasant conversations. People pass food to one another from serving dishes, differing from cafeteria-style dining, where children wait in line and receive individual servings of food.
According to the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies, children who participate in family-style dining are more attuned to their natural hunger and satiety cues. They are also more likely to try new foods and make healthier choices when they see these behaviors modeled by adults.
Family-style dining has several benefits for both children and teachers. Children receive a wide range of developmental benefits from participating in family-style dining.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills Development
- Children can serve themselves, promoting hand-eye coordination.
- Children learn to manipulate utensils.
- Gross motor skills are developed as children move chairs, sit, and stand.
Language and Communication Development
Children expand their vocabulary as they learn mealtime terms, with teachers encouraging full sentences instead of one-word responses.
- Children learn to say “please” and “thank you.”
- Children better understand how to participate in interactions through listening and participating in conversations.
- Relationships between the teacher and children are strengthened.
- Children are encouraged to carry conversations with each other.
Cognitive Development
- Children develop problem-solving skills through the use of utensils.
- Children can imitate their teachers and peers, practicing positive actions modeled by others.
Social-Emotional Development
- Social skills are promoted.
- Encourages impulse control as children learn the rules and expectations associated with eating meals in a group.
- Family-style dining allows time for conversation about food, what happened that day, upcoming events, and home.
- Family-style dining encourages adult and peer interactions.
- Children learn to share, take turns, and collaborate with others.
Keep It Going at Home
Children also benefit from family meals at home. According to the Consortium for Health and Military Performance, the benefits include:
- Healthier eating habits: Children who eat with their families, typically consume more fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium, and iron. They also drink fewer sodas, eating less saturated fats and making better food choices.
- Healthy habits have staying power: Adolescents who share more family meals tend to eat healthier later in life, so this tradition can have lasting importance.
- Better communication: Parents might learn valuable information about their children’s friends, school, and interests—heading off any potential problems. They could also learn parents thoughts on current events, healthy behaviors, and what matters to the family.
CSCC is excited to continue implementing family-style dining!
