As a part of meal time, center based children participate in family style meal service which encourages learning and development not only at the table but away from mealtime as well. Children learn independence, social skills, and other important habits that will last them through adulthood. The benefits of family style dining are myriad. Children develop more sharing and teamwork skills as well as practice taking turns. Family style dining increases table conversation, promoting vocabulary and language development.
Other benefits of family style dining for children include learning:
– Portion sizes for each food group
– To recognize when they are hungry or satisfied
– How to identify healthy foods and where they come from
– To improve fine and gross motor skills
