Today will be interesting - First day of daycare provided lunch

SigmundsGirl

The cafeteria opened today at Evan's daycare and instead of having the kids eat their homemade lunch in their class room, they will walk over to the next building and have the school provided lunch.

For the kids in Evan's class (18-months to 2 years) I can see this being a big challenge. They are going to have to walk outside with their teacher, go to a new room they haven't yet explored and be expected to sit in big kid chairs (no booster seats to strap them in) while eating something different than they are used to.

They didn't have the menu ready yesterday but DH was told they are having soup and sandwiches. Ha! They are giving a bunch of kids that aren't very good with spoons soup. Maybe my kid is just special, but he will probably pour it all over himself because it is more interesting than actually eating it. And God help them if it is warm. He thinks everything that isn't straight from the fridge or room temperature is hot.

I packed 2 sets of extra clothes just in case and sent snacks for when he is hungry because he didn't eat his lunch.

Maybe I'll be surprised and it will have gone really well.

hdmeza

Have faith in how quickly they will rise to the occasion.  Not that they will not take some time to adjust.

I spent 3 years in a nationally accreditied program.  I our room the kids came to up b/t the age of 15-19 months, and they spent a year with us.  All meals were family style: plates, bowls, spoons, forks, and open top cups.  No boosters, just regular chairs.  They learned to help serve themselves, and clean their plates into the trash before putting utensils in a can and stacking dishes on the kitchen cart. 

I was a serious skeptic when I started there, and it didn't help that I began with them almost all the way through the year.  I figured the next group would be disasterous..I was wrong.  The infant room, began these same ideas at 12 months.

I learned to expect more of my own toddler (at the time) and of all kids.  I am sure after a little adjustment you will be amazed at what he will do!

sad5781

hdmeza:

Have faith in how quickly they will rise to the occasion.  Not that they will not take some time to adjust.

I spent 3 years in a nationally accreditied program.  I our room the kids came to up b/t the age of 15-19 months, and they spent a year with us.  All meals were family style: plates, bowls, spoons, forks, and open top cups.  No boosters, just regular chairs.  They learned to help serve themselves, and clean their plates into the trash before putting utensils in a can and stacking dishes on the kitchen cart. 

I was a serious skeptic when I started there, and it didn't help that I began with them almost all the way through the year.  I figured the next group would be disasterous..I was wrong.  The infant room, began these same ideas at 12 months.

I learned to expect more of my own toddler (at the time) and of all kids.  I am sure after a little adjustment you will be amazed at what he will do!

I think I needed to hear this today.  I'm being so lazy on letting C have things that might be messy.  I need to grow up and let him grow up.  He can't (well he CAN) drink from a straw forever. 

SigmundsGirl

Very good points. I needed to hear this too. We let Evan get messy sometimes, but I'm sure we want a more controlled environment than there needs to be some days. He has learned a lot at school already. I think it is so cute to watch him clean the table with a napkin after he finishes dinner.

Apparently, the kids did okay with the new lunch room, but most kids (even the 3 & 4 year olds) did horribly with the soup. Evan didn't eat much, but he has to learn to eat new things. Interestingly, some of the items they will serve for lunch are things I had planned for this week (such as meatloaf and tacos) but he doesn't really eat much of, so we will see if he will eat them there.

And the menu isn't bad for the most part, but considering that most of the kids are 3 and under, I don't think much will be eaten the days they serve tossed salad for the vegetable. At least we know we can send things to supplement his lunch. I also don't like that there is some form of cookie/brownie most days.

Since some of the kids are in low income homes, the meals have to pass the government nutrition standards. Let's just say that that is a little lower than my standard. Why can't they have fruit and cheese for their afternoon snack and not juice and brownies?

And the days he has pizza I would have liked it to be a treat at home and not school. Oh well, I think it is only once or twice a month.