Sydney Early Education Centres share tips on successful progressive meal times

The team from Sydney Early Education Centres (SEEC) recently shared some hints and tips about progressive meal times, a popular measure in many early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. 

Progressive meal times, in an ECEC context, refers to the practice of allowing children to eat within a longer period of time, and to be guided by their appetites and rhythms, rather than the clock. 

There are a number of different approaches to progressive mealtimes, with some services offering a set morning and afternoon tea time, with a progressive approach to lunch, while others will allow children to graze throughout the day. 

To illustrate the importance of a flexible approach to mealtimes, the team at SEEC offered the following example: 

“Imagine you are working away on an important project for work when your boss interrupts you and tells you to stop what you are doing, pack everything away, and go and have lunch. Not only have you lost track of your creative thoughts, but you are not very hungry, and would prefer to wait until you are ready to eat.” 

In contrast, SEEC chooses to support children’s sense of agency, viewing them as capable citizens with rights, who are active participants in their learning. Rather than restricting children to routine times, SEEC has a ‘rhythm of the day’ rather than a set routine. 

“Our rhythm of the day is flexible and child-centred, our days involve large periods of indoor and outdoor learning and play, often simultaneously, allowing the children choice and to be immersed in more complex learning and social engagement,” a spokesperson said. 

“Rituals such as meals and rest periods have predictable times, however, are progressive and guided by the children’s needs and choices, such as sibling lunches.”

Viewed in this way, meals become an experience, a meaningful ritual which involves care, intention, and a high level of organisation. 

To begin the process, educators involve the children in the preparation of the meal, and/or setting the tables. Each child is then given a choice of where to sit at the table and who to sit next to, how much food they would like to eat or not eat, or if they would like to continue playing and join for the next lunch round. 

Most of the meals provide opportunities for the children to self-serve their food, increasing the children’s capacity for choice and independence.

“Progressive meals allow children the freedom to continuously play and the right to choose when they are hungry. Children are much more likely to eat all their meals and try new foods if their voices are heard and they have more control over when they are feeling hungry,” the SEEC team emphasised.

Overall, the spokesperson continued, the progressive approach to mealtimes allows children’s growing competence to be supported, and gives them increased responsibility and independence. For the youngest children, flexible rituals of eating support their individual sleep routines. 

Educators eat with children, and use meal times to build relationships and role model positive choices with food. 

How do progressive meals work at SEEC? 

• The children help set the table and sometimes help prepare the meal with the chef. 
• The children are invited to come and sit at the table. If they choose to continue to play, they will be invited later. 
• The children are encouraged to self-serve their food and sometimes to serve others.
• The children are given a last call for meals, giving them the last opportunity to eat before it is packed away. This is also when children are invited for more if they would still like some. 
• The older children are encouraged to help clean their plates, utensils and tables.

Learn more about making everyday rituals extraordinary here. Further information about SEEC is available here.