Tips on Helping Your Kids Learn to Pack Their Own Lunch
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Whether you prefer to pack lunches the night before or do it in the morning before school, why not include the kids in the process?
I know that you may think that this will add to the chaos of getting kids ready for school, but if you plan it out a bit, you can actually work yourself out of the lunch-making job over time!
Teaching kids to pack their own lunch starts the process of mentoring them to cook for themselves, a life skill that they will need to master before moving out one day!
Kindergarten or first grade is a great place to start. Kids view cooking as an adult task and are typically eager to help. Enlist them while they are excited. It will work to your advantage! Kids at this age can typically…
wipe out their lunchbox
grab and add pre-packaged items
make choices about healthy foods or a treat they would like to add
put items into baggies or containers
add napkins and utensils
Parents can show them how to make a sandwich or heat food in the microwave and add it to a thermos as they get older.
As you work side by side making lunches, teach them to put items back in the fridge and clean up after themselves. These tasks are part of the routine.
Once kids take over this responsibility completely, reserve the right to do a quick check of the lunch before heading out to school.
This just ensures that your kids are not walking out with three packs of cookies, a bag of Cheetos, and a can of Coke.
Maybe you are reading this, and your kids are older. They are old enough to understand that this is a chore and may be reluctant to take over the lunch making.
Your job may be a bit tougher handing this over if you start at a later age, but it can be done!
Ask them what they would like in their lunches. Do they prefer a wrap to a sandwich? Would they like chips or pretzels?
Help them pick a time that they prefer to prepare their lunch.
Pre-cut fruit and veggies, or prepare items they can easily grab for lunches over the weekend.
Be available in the kitchen in case they need help.
Reserve the right to check the lunches as you head out to the school to ensure it’s not just cookies or Cheetos!
As you gradually let go of this responsibility, there may be times that lunch goes out with just Halloween candy, or your child forgets their lunch. Don’t worry! The school will likely have a system to feed your kids if they forget their lunch or the teacher may call and let you know that your child ate six candy bars for lunch. It’s a work in progress!
Here are Some Fun Lunch Books and Resources
Little Letters for Lunch: Keep it Short and Sweet by Lea Redmond
101 Lunchbox Notes with Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliot
My Big Evil Brother Packed My Lunch: 20+ Gross Lift the Flaps by Chronicle Books
Kid Chef Every Day: The Easy Cookbook for Foodie Kids by Colleen Kennedy
Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipies Kids will Love to Make (and Eat!) by Deanna F. Cook
Pillsbury Fast and Healthy Meals for Kids by Pillsbury Editors
Little Bento: 32 Irresistible Bento Box Lunches for Kids by Michelle Oliver
More Resources for Parents…
Winning or Losing: Tips for Mentoring Kids When Competing Emotions Take Over
The Best Ways to Spoil Your Kids Rotten, and Why Your Should
