by: sumaira tahir - 29-06-07 14:42
hi i am student and doing a research on snack routines.
should we offer an open snack for children (redy for them on the table when they come to setting and help them selves when ever they want, to promote social skills and independance ? or set routine times (between the sessios) to help them to learn about routines eg tiding up washing hands etc. i will be very grateful if you can give your opinion on the matter.many thanks
by: poison dwarf :)
I went to an anger management seminar earlier this week and one of the triggers for aggresive/ angry outbursts can be hunger. It has a significant effect on behaviour. The lecturer did not mention any specific research, but I am pretty sure some has been done around the subject. Try looking for some research around breakfast clubs or free school dinners that might throw up something useful :)
So, on that info from the seminar i would recommend "grazing" for all children.
Also try looking for a link between weight and eating "little and often" I seem to recall eating in this way is better for your body. Sorry I havent got any concrete research to tell you about, but it should help you to dig something out :)
research project - 01-07-07 21:44by: Sarwat Akhtar
Hi
I think that children should have an open snak to minimise the risk of disruption and keep them on task.I also agree that its also promote independence and freedom in childern.
research project - 02-07-07 11:01by: tart
hi i work with children and i have realised that an open snack works out better than an routine snack.
Because then the children do not have to stop their activity and can carry on with their play,and by having an open snack they can enjoy it more while they eat.
research project - 02-07-07 11:55by: catlyn
hi i work in a creche as a manager and promote independance in children all the time .I tried an open snack at my creche but it didn't work because parents were not bothered to give us ring to let us know that they can't make it .I were basically wasting food everyday so i decideed to stop.
research project - 07-07-07 18:59by: girly-girl
hiya, at my nursery setting we have regular snack times where the children can sit down and eat healthy snacks. we find this helps the children as they can have a 5 minute rest, and also this is the perfect time for us to encourage the children with their table manners.
research project - 08-07-07 10:46by: scarlett
We also do an ongoing snack, as this is what we have to do nowadays (early years, ofsted).
On the whole I agree with it, but it does take careful monitoring. Some children will eat and eat and eat so there is not enough for others. You could just keep providing lots of snack for the children who like to eat a large amount but then there is a cost involved.
Some children cant understand that they mustnt eat everybody elses snack (sen, younger children)
We put it out in a couple bowls with plates.
How does everyone else manage the snack so everyone can manage to get some before the "greedy" ones eat it all.
research project - 09-07-07 22:10by: luckylee25
I agree that open snack is a good idea in most cases, as i have seen this method in many establishments. The negative side to this is that some children would rather play than choose to got to snack on their own, therefore missing snack.I think on some occassions its nice to sit down together depending on the number of children.
research project - 13-07-07 17:42by: sumaira tahir
hi many thanks to all who replied to my task .It helped me to get an idea about other setting's snack routines and views were very useful as well .
Thanks again
research project - 17-07-07 21:51by: sweet_female
At our setting we work around routine times for snack. We stick the childrens names on a board and when we call them they go and retrieve their name (recognition) and bring it to us. They are then encouraged to pour their own drinks....from jugs on the table, with either milk, water and juice and choose a biscuit from the tin (independence). They then know to go to the toilet and wash their hands afterwards aswell.
research project - 19-07-07 19:46by: girly-girl
hiya can i just say that ofsted dont want you to give the children biscuits anymore. just healthy snacks. so we have replaced biscuits with bread sticks and selection of dips.
