Eating It Up! Developing Literacy During Mealtimes

Mealtimes offer an ideal opportunity to develop children’s early literacy skills. For example, talking with children during meals can significantly enhance their language development and other literacy skills. Research has shown that these types of interactions support the foundation for later reading and academic success.

Benefits of Mealtime Conversations

1. Language Development: Talking with children during meals can expose them to rich vocabulary and more complex sentence structures. These  build children’s language skills, which are essential for reading and writing. Narrating actions while discussing the day’s events can introduce new words and concepts, enhancing children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills (Speech-Language Pathology Services, 2020).
2. Interactive Learning: Mealtimes should provide a relaxed environment where children can practice their conversational skills, ask questions, and engage in discussions which help improve their understanding of language and communication. Mealtimes are a perfect time to ask open-ended questions, such as “What was your favorite part of the day?” which encourage children to think and respond thoughtfully, fostering narrative skills and critical thinking (Speech-Language Pathology Services, 2020).
3. Cognitive Skills: When possible, consider Involving children in meal preparation which can help develop their cognitive skills. Measuring ingredients and following a recipe require children to understand and use numbers and sequences, which are foundational for early math and reading skills. Having discussions about meal preparation steps and their purposes reinforces comprehension and logical thinking (PLOS ONE, 2021).

Practical Strategies

1. Narrate Activities: Describe what you are doing while cooking and during meals. For example, “I am chopping the carrots. Next, I will add them to the pot.” This running commentary provides a language model for children, introducing them to new vocabulary and grammatical structures.
2. Encourage Participation: When appropriate, have children  help with simple tasks. This  makes them feel included and gives them a chance to learn new words and concepts related to cooking and food.
3. Discuss and Describe: Talk about the food you are having by describing its taste, texture, color, and smell. This expands children’s descriptive vocabulary and sensory awareness.
4. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of closed-ended (only one answer) and yes/no questions, ask open-ended (those without a single or correct answer) questions that require more thought and detailed responses. Asking open-ended questions requires children to articulate their thoughts and engage in more meaningful conversations.

When used consistently, these strategies can make mealtimes  a powerful tool for nurturing early literacy skills . These everyday positive interactions can also foster children’s  love for learning and communication in general.