When we are not at lunch and snack, we use sand, we use water, we use one fourth, one half serving cups, serving spoons and pitchers…And we practice the pouring, scooping and stirring at playtime. Children get to practice the motions needed for self-service at playtime and get better at serving themselves at mealtime. – Early Childhood Educator
Play is an important aspect of children’s learning and development. You can use different tools and activities during play to help children to master self-serving skills needed at mealtime.
Purchase measuring cups, tongs and bowls from dollar stores. This way, children can practice serving themselves at playtime with tools that they will use during mealtimes. They can also learn math and science concepts, like measurement, quantity, and volume, in addition to fine motor skills such as eye-hand coordination.
Watch the videos below to learn more about how to support children’s self-serving skills at playtime and make mealtimes an enjoyable and pleasant experience for everyone.
Watch this video to learn how to support children serving themselves through sand and water play!
Watch the following video to learn how to support children as they learn to scoop and pour.
Watch this video to learn how to support children as they learn to level and cut.
Watch this video to learn how to teach children to use tongs for self-service.
Watch this video to learn how to support children as they learn to stir.
While playing in the sandbox and water table, have paper towels and a small duster nearby, so that the children can easily clean up their messes when they happen. This will give children a sense of autonomy and they will be prepared to clean up the spills if they happen in the classroom.
Refer to your workbook for a lesson plan on teaching children self-service skills during play.