Food for thought

June 7, 2007 | Print

Snack Time Picnics

A picnic can be a wonderful ritual for older babies and toddlers who sit on their own and eat finger foods.

We started sharing snack picnics with our children after observing snack time in RIE class. Children learn to sit, wipe their hands and wear a bib before eating. After a few days of doing snack in this way, they learn and enjoy each step in the ritual. And we do too!

• To start, we get out an old tablecloth or sheet. “I’m getting the cloth for snack.” We set the cloth on the floor, then sit down with the food (we like to use a banana), bib and a wet cloth.

• We invite our children to join us for their snack. “I have a banana for you. Would you like to have snack?”

• If they come to the cloth, we encourage them to sit by patting the floor, “You can sit here.” Or “Sit down and I’ll give you a bite.” We wait until they’re seated before we offer them food. It’s a good way to initiate their understanding that we sit when we eat.

• Once they’re seated, we hold out the wet washcloth. They often put their hands on the cloth. “I’m going to wipe your hands.” We gently wipe their hands. Then we take out a bib. “I have a bib for you.” We put on the bib.

• We peel the banana and hold out a piece for them. Toddlers may enjoy pulling off a piece of the peel. We start the peel, then hold the banana out to them and they sense that we’re offering them a chance to participate. Younger children may want us to feed them rather than take the food in their own hands.

• Children tend to get distracted and walk away from snack. We give them a few gentle reminders. “I have more banana for you.” They may decide not to come sit on the cloth for more snack. We wait for 5 to 10 minutes and then put the picnic away, letting them know first (“Would you like a bite before I put snack away?”) so they have a chance to come back to sit on the cloth if they’re hungry.

• When snack is over, we wipe their hands, take off their bib and fold up the cloth. “We’re done with snack. I’m going to wipe your hands.” “Now I’ll take your bib.” At each step we give the children time to participate, we hold out the wet cloth towards them so they can rest their hands on it before we wipe. We mention the bib before undoing it so they have time to undo it themselves and hand it to us.

• It may take a few days before a child understands the process of a picnic snack and wants to participate. Don’t be discouraged if the first few times don’t seem to work. It’s just something to try. Or if you like the picnic, you can try it for regular meals.

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