Is anyone familiar with a "snack bar" approach to serving snack in preschool? Can you tell me about it?

Question

I have recently seen something about serving preschool snack as a snack bar instead of the traditional method of all children eating at the same time. I am curious to learn more about this idea.

Answer 1

I've seen this done like just another center and the children can go to the Snack Center during free choice.  Often times there is a visual on how to "prepare" the snack or how many to take.  Usually there is an adult nearby so they can be of help. It takes practice, like anything.  By mid year the children learn the "rules of the road"...understanding they must wash their hands first and most can "read" the visual on their own.

Answer 2

I teach in a Montessori school, which means we allow the children to have snack when they are hungry, instead of all at once.  I have tried different methods over the years.

Parents typically bring in some food for the children to share.  Over the years, the schools I have worked at have shifted from homemade to store-bought, prepackaged foods.  Then, the teachers and/or children help prepare the food to share with the others.

For a few years, we had a variety of fruits and vegetables cut up in a serving tray, with a basket of crackers.  Two to four children at a time can put some food on a plate, then sit at a designated snack table.

Sometimes a "food prep" activity is available.  This can be apples on a tray with an apple slicer, a mini-bagel with a little bowl of cream cheese, a hard-boiled egg with an egg slicer.  The child takes the individual tray to his place, makes the food and eats it, then washes the dishes.

This school year, a couple of us decided to set up a shelf with different food prep options, as well as whatever snack was brought in.  Two children can choose to serve themselves snack on a tray, pour themselves a glass of water, then choose a place to sit and eat.  They must use a placemat and napkin, and are expected to wash the dishes to prepare the activity for the next person.  You may choose the "regular" snack once, and each food preparation activity once.

If implemented slowly and with careful guidance, it can be a successful program.  It gives the children basic "practical life" skills as they learn to manipulate the different utensils.  They develop a sense of independence preparing their own food.  And they can be exposed to a variety of foods.  They also develop a sense of responsibility as they have to clean up after themselves.

Here are links to some articles about different food preparation activities you can do with preschoolers:

Veggies

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Fruit

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Misc. foods

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Answer 3

My son goes to a school where he is allowed to choose what he eats... like when you go to a buffet... but he has a set time to go to lunch and a set time to have a snack...