Where have our values gone? How will children learn to respect people if they are no longer shown the right way to behave at mealtimes? Isn't this part of caring, sharing and considering our fellows? Is that now the way to eat - any time you like and just help yourself?
Could this be why young people are eating in the streets and dropping their litter when they are finished? Why don't they stop to enjoy their food and give it time to go down, which is good for the growing body?
I wonder how children are going to manage if they are not trained to wait and feel really hungry before they eat. Could this be the cause of our growing obesity problem?
We have a duty of care to protect the next generation, who need to respect their fellows, their bodies and their environment. As carers we need to help them to realise that they cannot help themselves to what they want when they want it, and to be patient.
Nursery mealtimes are a chance for children and adults to share and enjoy meals, take time and have a fun experience, while respecting the food and the people involved. This enables them to demonstrate suitable conduct while using correct cutlery.
I would hope that the Ofsted inspection category 'keeping children healthy'
includes all of the above. If children snack all morning they may not be ready for a good meal and the above values will be lost forever.
* Valerie Edge, manager, Henry's Kindergarten, Winchester
