In this Stockholm Pre-School, the chi
ldren know when the restaurant is open and when they feel hungry, they sign themselves out of their group area to go and eat.
They choose what food they would like, how much they want and where they would like to sit
Some of the staff eat lunch in the restaurant with the children, the others play in the group rooms.
The restaurant is set up with a buffet style arrangement.
I arrive with my colleagues.
We serve our own lunch and sit at a table. A few of the children (some as young as two years old) join us. They speak to each other.
When they finish eating they scrape the leftovers from their plates, into a bin.
There are two large bowls of water one with soapy water the other with plain water.
Each child washes their own plate cutlery and they rinse them too. Staff are available for those children that need some help with this task.
The atmosphere is calm, the children clearly know what they are expected to do. The sound of their chatting is like a bubbling brook and there is kind of graciousness present with the movement in this room. It’s a very relaxed occasion, I have never experienced anything quite like this in a pre-school before.
The lighting is low (tea lights and fairy lights are carefully placed in the buffet area). There are cloths covering the tables and fresh flowers in small vases in the centre of each one.
The tables are of adult height. The children’s chairs have tall legs and a step too for easy climbing to the seat.
The staff tell me that every day the selection of salads and raw vegetables available is the same, the only change is the main dishes. Diet and healthy eating is very important, they ensure that children have well-balanced meals with a high raw food content too
The whole mealtime experience was easygoing and peaceful.
To learn more you can download this article Lunch-engelsk (2)
If you would like to organise a group visit to Ängbybarnen’s preschools in Stockholm, Bromma, I’d be happy to assist. You will experience empathic communication first hand and learn how to apply NVC principles and practices in your setting follow this link.
Leave a Reply