Snack time at Sooke Montessori

Snack time is more than just eating, its a time to reflect, celebrate, communicate, learn, and rest. Typically we start with a song we sing together. That means we wait for everyone,(practicing patients) to wash their hands get their snacks and find a place to sit. At the beginning of the year the children may have to find their name tag and this is where they sit for snack. After we sing we eat, children are free to choose what they eat.
 Many montessori schools have "open snack time" The children choose when and what they eat throughout the day. I love this idea and have done this in the past, but for my class the pro's of group snack time out weigh the pro's of "open snack time" so we eat together!
Self regulation and independence will be taught within a group snack time. With parents on board and clear and consistent guidelines within the classroom we will have a group of capable independent thinkers thanks to the freedom we allow during snack time.

Parents are encouraged to send a snack free of sugar and in a manner the children can manage.
By this I mean food that is prepared - children can open and close containers and at times can prep food themselves ie: peel eggs, spread butter with a small knife etc. they love doing this and it promotes small motor skills. If a child cannot eat an apple with the skin because they have a loose tooth, peel it, chop it and put in a container they can open. Set them up for success! The less they have to ask for help the more confident they will be. I'm not saying everything has to be easy, challenge is good and we as teachers love teachable moments.

If a child does not want to eat we encourage them to sit and chat with their friends or relax in the peace area.

When the children finish eating they then pack up their lunch, wash the table with a sponge and sweep the floor if needed.