Introducing Open Snack!

During circle today we gave a tour of “Open Snack” we explained that the snack area can fit four children and you can go there when you are hungry and when there is space. The idea of open snack allows children to determine when they are hungry and how to manage time between snack and play. It also is an opportunity to foster independence. Children can choose the foods they want to eat and refuse foods they are uninterested in without having to consult an adult. We talk about portion control and making sure there is enough snack for everyone in the class to have some. Today we had cheese sticks, plums and pretzels! The class did a great job of only taking one cheese stick and plum apiece and many were independent both with serving themselves and with opening the cheese sticks all by themselves: not an easy task!  Also having snack as a small group is a nice opportunity for children to make connections with classmates and have child-driven conversations. Open snack is a new idea for many of the Tel Aviv classmates and we are looking forward to continuing to use it throughout our year together!