Mealtimes can be a battleground, especially when dealing with picky eaters.
But they don’t have to be!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO MAKE MEALTIMES ENJOYABLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOR YOUR YOUNG CHILD?
Creating a Positive Eating Environment:
- Set a Routine: Consistent meal and snack times help regulate your child’s appetite and make mealtimes predictable.
- Family Meals: Eating together as a family creates a social atmosphere and encourages healthy eating habits.
- Pleasant Atmosphere: Keep mealtimes calm and positive. Avoid distractions like TV or phones. Try to make such times as – NO SCREENS – time.
- Child-Sized Portions: Offer small portions to avoid overwhelming your child.
- Involve Your Child: Let your child help with meal prep, like washing fruits or stirring ingredients or maybe involving them in purchasing specific “healthy” ingredients at a supermarket, for a dish – you can make together at home and enjoy. Sunday or a weekly/fortnightly shopping day with your child – to select / purchase food at a supermarket or farmers market can be great learning for your child too.
Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits:
- Offer a Variety of Foods: Introduce new foods gradually, and don’t be discouraged by initial refusals.
- Lead by Example: If you eat healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit.
- Limit/avoid Sugary Drinks and Processed Foods: Opt for water, milk, or diluted juice.
- Avoid Bribery and Forced Feeding: These tactics can backfire and create negative associations with food.
- learning about growing food: can be exciting to learn about growing food in a kitchen garden or if that’s not feasible – occasionally visiting a farm and let the farmer walk you and your child through the growing cycle – its real experiential learning. else sometimes children grow up thinking food comes from “super markets/shops”.
Dealing with Picky Eaters:
- Be Patient: It may take multiple exposures before a child accepts a new food.
- Hide Veggies in Sauces or Soups: A sneaky way to get in those nutrients.
- Offer Choices: Give your child choices, such as two different vegetables or fruits.
- Avoid Power Struggles: If your child refuses a meal, offer a healthy snack and try again later.
- Don’t panic/push if they are not eating. No point fretting if your child is not eating at some meal-times. As and when he/she gets hungry, they will ask – so relax just go ahead and enjoy your own meal meanwhile.
Tips for Fussy Eaters:
- Offer Finger Foods: These are easier for toddlers and younger ones to manage. Cutlery can gradually come later.
- Make Food Fun: Use cookie cutters to shape foods or create fun faces on plates. Making letters & numbers out of food – is another great experiential learning & eating fun method – that works (try making a star or smile chapati or porantha or dosa– it’s cool, healthy, engaging & fun)
- Engage your Child in Grocery Shopping: Let them pick out fruits or vegetables they like.
- Picnics: are great to encourage children to enjoy food & make mealtimes fun. Perhaps a monthly picnic with family at a nearby park may be considered, with some ball play or frisbee time or fly a kite or even play some chess/scrabble
Remember: Every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Be patient, persistent, and positive, and you’ll be well on your way to raising A HEALTHY EATER.
PICNICs WORK 😊
PICNICS or eating out with some elements or under a tree in some green areas in your neighbourhoods can all be successfully tried – as they really make for enjoyable & memorable meal & family & of course photo – op times.
There are some great parks/green spots near our school campuses – consider locating a suitable one near say:
- SouthCity1
- Sector31
- Sector40
- Sushant Lok
- Sector72
- Sector70
- Sector48
- Badshahpur corridor*
- Leisure Valley
(*) which is right next to the Sixth Element – Tata Primanti campus – and the trees there near our school’s north/east boundary – help filter our school campus air too.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S EATING HABITS OR MEALTIME STRUGGLES?
the Sixth Element School is a green school that encourages all of above, including eating together in a picnic like setting – one of our School’s bright gardens or inside their classroom as a group.
why – the Sixth Element?
Very simply, the Sixth Element was a phrase coined by the school founders 20 years back, to illustrate igniting the joy of learning – so important for children’s development – as we nurture, and get them ready for the future.
How to Foster a Well-Rounded Child?
While there is lots of operating structure and detailed SOPs in school’s daily /weekly/monthly/annual – schedules – “how” the same is executed is unique – i.e., the Sixth element way of incorporating co-curricular & scientific & artistic activities, project work etc – leading to children enjoy learning & look forward to coming to school each day (and interestingly they do miss school on holidays 😊 ! )
Some examples of what’s done on instilling values & character building:
- Instill values: Understanding differences between right or wrong, is discussed in its many facets often. As also discussing environmental issues, volunteering for community activities, clean-ups, and respecting all living beings.
- Values as a Compass: Values are the moral principles that guide our actions. The Cambridge International Curriculum, with its emphasis on global citizenship and community service, fosters values like respect, empathy, and responsibility
- Embrace sustainability: Reduce waste, conserve energy, and grow your own food together. Encouraging minimalism (BTW we are a uniform school), up-cycling, gardening, and exploring green technologies like rain water harvesting, recycling, etc
- Building Confidence: The curriculum’s focus on individual & team achievement (over experiential projects in small groups) and overcoming difficulties – and making progress, encouraged by the teacher helps build self-esteem. By setting and achieving goals, students develop a strong sense of confidence and resilience
- Life Skills for Real World: The curriculum’s focus on independent learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving equips students with essential life skills. These skills are invaluable in navigating challenges and opportunities- building confidence
THE SIXTH ELEMENT’s commitment to sustainability?
At the Sixth Element, we believe that education should go beyond classrooms. Our green airy, spacious campuses are a living laboratory, where children learn experimentally about sustainable practices. From solar panels to rainwater harvesting, recycling & near no plastics usage.
Our curriculum integrates sustainability into every subject, fostering a deep appreciation for nature, science, commerce & the arts – while instilling a desire to protect our planet.
By igniting the joy of learning, nurturing curiosity, confidence, values, and environmental consciousness – we empower children to become not only successful individuals, but equally responsible members of society and global citizens.
Does a unique International Curriculum School like the Sixth Element help?
A progressive holistic school following Cambridge International Curriculum significantly contributes by lots of experiential learning and project-based work.
The Sixth Element School: Where Cambridge International meets India- in an exclusive, low density, impactful format
Reason why we chose Cambridge International curriculum is because the blend of teacher directed as well as learner self-driven learning & research seems to be relevant for aspirational kids from Indian families, keen on preparing their kids to be global citizens of the future – weather based in India or overseas.
Is the Sixth Element School duly registered with Cambridge International?
Yes, The Sixth Element School – is duly registered as one of over 10,000 schools globally – as a Cambridge International school with a global registration number IA 892
Keen to see what a unique school like The Sixth Element School offers? Schedule a visit and see for yourself why it could be the perfect launchpad for your child’s bright, global future!
We started the first sixth element school 20 years back in 2004 @ Gurgaon.
Our schools & afternoon extended school & afternoon ‘activities enriched’ daycare centers are unique, exclusive compact neighborhood green campuses – where a lot of outdoor activities & experiential learning (physical – not digital) takes place with children on most days.
Our unique Smaller campus – with only 2 sections per each class grade – and very limited children on campus, allow us to focus on each child’s growth & development properly.
We are proud of our high quality, committed teachers – the very backbone of any good learning environment.
We raise well-rounded future ready individuals who are prepared to face the challenges of the world with confidence and integrity – with the right methods and practices. As an example – our foundational fitness program delivered in partnership with xfit kids, our gym, our green playgrounds and great coaches – give a great foundational fitness and start to our school kids.
A good understanding and partnership between parents and schools is key to nurturing the future leaders of Gurugram, our great nation and our planet.
THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYZING & ENSURING “THE SIXTH ELEMENT – i.e. THE JOY OF LEARNING” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULUM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR VERY OWN CORE ANCIENT INDIAN BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA) & VALUES. THANKS TO ITS 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLL OUT IN INDIA NOW.
So, in line with some of India’s top and globally the very best: we are now a unique 100% Cambridge International School.
the Sixth Element School
the school children love
SOUTH CITY 1. TATA PRIMANTI (sector 72)
85272-74695 or 97736-32626
since 2004(20 years)
limited enrolment available in pre-NURSERY, NURSERY, KG & DAYCARE, grade 1 now – in our prenursery to K12 school programs.
@ Gurgaon’s only single section “exclusive” boutique VENTILATED, AIRY, SPACIOUS. GREEN SCHOOL CAMPUSES