Explicit Practice: Feeding self simple meal with fork or spoon

Independent feeding skills will support your child's success during Kindergarten snack and lunch times.

To help prepare your child for Kindergarten, we recommend practicing some independence with meals prior to the start of school. Explicit practice will be the best way to prepare your child to eat independently - and this includes eating similar types of foods that you will be likely to pack in their lunch kits!

What does explicit experience look like?

1. Lunch-time Rehearsal: Start incorporating a “school-style” lunch time routine into your weekly schedule by packing your child’s lunch in their lunch pack with the types of foods you intend on sending them with once they go to school. When you sit down to eat lunch, encourage your child to eat their entire meal all on their own. At dinner time, allow them to scoop their own portion (with guidance) onto their own plate. Encourage your child to eat their meal using a spoon or fork. Using child-sized utensils may allow your child more control and precision with their movements when they are self-feeding.

Other activities:

1. Play pretend!

• Using playdough or other toys, encourage your child to have pretend dinner parties! With play or plastic utensils, encourage your child to cut, scoop, and pretend to eat.

2. Pouring and sorting play

• Any actions similar to eating, such as shoveling sand, will all help develop the skills necessary to eat independently. You can also fill a bowl of dry rice or beans and have your child practice scooping from one bowl to another.