Making mealtimes fun. Top tips for contented kids.

Shared mealtimes are highlight of the day in many families and, across the globe life’s major milestones are marked by special feasts. But with little kids, getting to that point can feel forever away. These useful pointers can help you get there sooner.

The first (and hardest) thing to remember about making mealtimes fun is that it starts with you. It’s sad but true that as a parent or carer your attitude to food and eating and the way you act at mealtimes will generally set the tone for the kids.

Given mealtimes often come at the end of a long hard day, staying calm, patient and positive can be a real challenge. But it’s a genuine essential for mealtime fun.

That’s why we’ve divided this article into two sections – because taking the stress out really helps you put the fun in.

Take the stress out …

1. Plan ahead. Half an hour or so spent once or twice a week mapping out meal plans and making sure you’ve got the shopping, preparation or pre-prepared meals on hand will pay big dividends when you’re harried and stressed. 
2. Be flexible. Have your plan in place, but always have Plan B options if you’re running late, you and the kids are having a bad day – or if you get sudden culinary inspo. 
3. If your child doesn’t want to eat, never force them – no matter how much effort you’ve made. Try not to show frustration, which just creates negative associations and experiences. Offer a healthy alternative at the time or, if your child doesn’t eat at all, a healthy snack later. 
4. Share tasks and chores with your partner or other support, and with your kids as appropriate. That may be shopping, food prep, ordering packaged meals, setting the table, cleaning up or getting the bath on and pyjamas ready for after the meal, or some other jobs that will free you up to focus on a positive mealtime experience.
5. Set up a dedicated meal space or if you don’t have the room, keep mealtime equipment close to hand so it’s easy to set up, clean up and put away. Think easy-clean matting, plates, cups and cutlery. Again – it’s a few minutes spent early that you’ll thank yourself for later.

And put the fun in …

1. Think visually and tap into your own inner child. Arrange meal components into shapes and patterns they’ll recognise and enjoy. That might be faces, trees or flowers, the beach, a house, a sporting field or similar. Talk about the objects and turn eating into a discussion about the different ‘picture’ components.
2. Join in the meal when you can. Even if you’re having a full meal later, set aside some time to sit with them while they eat and share in some it as you chat. It may be just a few carrot sticks, a piece of broccoli or some cherry tomatoes to nibble on to model the eating and mealtime behaviour you expect from them. And if you can manage a full family mealtime including the kids a few times a week, then do.
3. Every week, or more if you can, offer a mealtime ‘surprise’: a funny poem or song, a silly joke or trick, fun food facts and so on to keep your kids engaged and looking forward to mealtime. 
4. Signal mealtimes with dedicated calming background music you can choose together if your kids are old enough or your favourites if they’re not. You can talk about the music and how it makes them feel while you eat. In a similar vein, develop mealtime rituals they enjoy, whether it’s discussion about their day, your day or stories from your own childhood. 
5. Reward your kids with extra story time, extra playtime, more of their favourite activity (but not food!) when they try something new, finish their veggies, help with table setting, cleaning, clearing – no matter how small their contribution or effort. Keep the mood positive and upbeat – but know when to quit if it’s not working.

Most of all, try to clear the time and head space you need to reduce the stress and have fun with your kids. As long and arduous as it can feel some days, about 20 minutes or less will get it done, and help you all enjoy your time together.