Top tips: Involving children in snack preparation
Involving children in preparing snacks supports independence, communication, early maths skills and healthy eating habits. With planning and supervision, snack preparation can be a fun, safe and meaningful learning experience for the children.
Top tips for involving children in snack preparation
Ensure all staff follow the same expectations by using a staff meeting to share, discuss and agree how children can be involved in snack preparation.
Ideas to discuss include:
- Always checking allergies, dietary requirements and cultural preferences before involving children
- Following good hygiene routines by demonstrating and modelling hand washing before and after food preparation and talk about why this is important
- Identifying tasks appropriate for different ages and stages of development, such as beginning with simple tasks such as washing fruit and cutting soft foods, moving on to stirring and spreading and then encouraging peeling and grating
- Using suitable, child-safe utensils at all times. Familiarising the children with the names of the tools they are using and using relevant vocabulary, e.g. cut, peel, mash, spread, etc.
- Modelling and demonstrating snack preparation so children are actively involved in the process
- Ensuring children can clearly see the food being prepared, even when tasks are unsafe for them to complete independently (e.g. cutting a pineapple)
- Using descriptive language to count pieces, name colours, compare weights and sizes and discuss textures to support communication and early maths skills
- Encouraging children to choose ingredients or decide how to arrange their snack to promote independence and decision-making
- Using snack preparation as an opportunity to practise sharing, waiting and working together
- Following children’s interests and keep the experience relaxed and fun to build positive relationships with food.
NDNA products to help you with this tip
PANCo – Training Programme
Toddler Room Leader – Live Virtual Classroom
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
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