The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
STRESS LESS, LUNCH & LEARN
Meal planning, advance prep and creativity help create structure for kids learning remotely
The pandemic has disrupted our typical weekdays. For children who are beginning the school year in remote learning environments, it means the loss of school lunchtime. Some depend on school for their meals, and the social and psychological benefits of the lunchroom are immeasurable for all children. However, there are ways for parents to create some normalcy for their children, even when heading to the school cafeteria isn’t part of the daily lunch drill.
“All kids thrive on routine
and structure,” said Laurie Bradley, a marriage and family therapist. “At school, lunch is a break from learning, where they have social interaction, get some fuel in and then burn
that energy off.”
She said parents can use mealtimes to fill that void at home.
“Building that structure at home is important, for them to know what that routine looks like again,” Marietta
City Schools Nutrition Director Cindy Kanarek Culver said, “especially for a new kindergartner who hasn’t had that type of structure.”
Bradley suggested getting kids involved in the meal planning, such as deciding which
day is pizza day.
The aspect of school lunch that is lost, and is more difficult to make up for, is social interaction.
“Eating is a very social event, and you learn a lot about manners and time management, because it takes a long time to sit and eat,” Culver said.
Bradley said parents should let their children Zoom or FaceTime with other students who are learning virtually during lunchtime, so the kids can socialize and experience “free” time with their peers outside of scheduled classes.
Both experts also recommended adding a physical component for kids to burn off their extra energy, so recess is a must, even if it is just walking the dog.
“If eating at mealtime has become difficult,” Bradley said, “mixing it up can be fun and a way to distract from just eating. One idea she offered: “Building a pillow fort and eating lunch under it on a rainy or hot day.”
And perhaps a carton of chocolate milk or a favorite dessert is a little splurge that will make school at home feel special.
If planning lunches becomes too time-consuming or expensive, Culver said, parents of public school students should take a cue from their school district’s lunch program. “The beauty of the federal school breakfast and lunch program is that it hits everything that you’re after. It’s nutritionally balanced, with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and everything a child needs for proper growth and development.”
Culver said lunches at school usually cost around $2.40, and you can find out what your district offers by calling.
Another point is that parents should build in some kindness for themselves.
“Parents are putting a lot of pressure on themselves to be all things to their kids right now, because we’re not in school,” Bradley said. “It’s OK when things don’t go as planned. If we can remind ourselves that we’ve got these little people watching us, I think it can help us realize that that’s an important skill to learn as an adult. To be, like, let’s pivot, let’s adapt.”
Remote learning doesn’t have to be precisely like school, and it is fine if lunch one day is a microwaved burrito. The real upside for all of these kids will be more time spent with their caregiver, and that’s something even the best schools cannot provide.