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Chapter Three: Adult Role in Nourishing Healthy Eaters

Getting Ready for Family Style Dining

To be successful with family style meal service, children need to develop certain skills. 
Adults can help children develop skills to be successful with family style dining. Children will need to learn:

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Proper handwashing techniques.

How to hold utensils, glasses, plates, and bowls.

Not to put serving utensils in their mouths. They will need constant reminders about this at first but will master this over time.

How to pass serving dishes and pitchers.  They will need frequent reminders to pass bowls and plates holding the outside edges. Dishes with a small lip are ideal.

How to clean up spills.  Spills will happen. When they do, remind children that it is ok to make mistakes and help with the cleanup. Assisting in cleanup promotes independence and teaches responsibility. An empty tub for dirty dishes placed at child level helps reduce spills during cleanup.