At BestStart Whangaparāoa, we have recently introduced self-serving kai at mealtimes. Each table now has a tray of food, and tamariki use tongs or spoons to serve their own kai. This change supports tamariki to develop independence and confidence as they make choices about what and how much they would like to eat.
It also encourages important self-help skills, such as developing fine motor skills when using utensils, turn-taking, and caring for shared resources. This has opened up conversations about where our food comes from, as well as connections to the foods tamariki enjoy making and eating at home.
Providing opportunities for tamariki to serve themselves aligns with Te Whāriki, supporting mana motuhake (independence) and helping children feel capable and trusted in their learning environment. Kai time has become a wonderful opportunity for conversation, problem-solving, and social connection around the table.
We have already seen how successful this has been. Tamariki are showing pride in serving their own kai, helping their friends, and trying new foods. It has been lovely to see a growing sense of responsibility and belonging during our shared kai times.
This approach has been so successful in our Preschool room that we have now introduced it in our Toddlers room, and we are exploring how to support this in our Under 2s room in the future.