Increasing Independence In Children – Making Their Own Lunch

Children Making Their Own Lunch

This post is part of a series of simple activities that can help increase your child’s independence. These activities are aimed at children aged two and above. Previous posts can be found below:

Having a child make their own lunch is a very simple but liberating activity for a child. It is also the culmination of the previous independence building activities.

Equipment:

  • 1 small juicer.
  • 1 orange.
  • 1 small glass.
  • 1 small grater.
  • 1 Plate.
  • A small piece of cheese
  • 1 small carrot.
  • 2 slices of bread.
  • Butter.
  • 1 small knife.

When To Do It:

Lunch or snack time! It is also a great activity to do with a couple of children. Each can work on a task and help put the lunch together.

What To Do:

This activity is for the child to make a glass of orange juice and a grated carrot and cheese sandwich for their lunch.

With all these practical life tasks I give a display of the activity first without words, allowing the child to take in the actual hand movements required. Too much talk can distract them from observing how the task is done.

  1. Have the child juice the orange and pour it into the glass.
  2. Show the child how to set the table with a place mat and place their drink on the right hand side.
  3. Prepare the ingredients for the sandwich – grate the carrot and cheese.
  4. Place the bread on a chopping board.
  5. Show them how much butter to place on the knife.
  6. Show the child how to start at the top of the slice of bread and make their way down to the other end and have them do this for two slices of bread.
  7. Allow them to place the toppings onto the bread and place the other slice on top.
  8. Have them cut the sandwich and place it on their plate.
  9. Have them take it to the table and sit with them and enjoy lunch together 🙂 .
  10. Finish the activity by having the child clean up . This could be as simple as placing the dishes in the dishwasher and food scraps in the compost or you can have them hand wash all the materials used.