2019 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 43-54
This study focused on children’s tasks and perceptions of their daily mealtime experience at ECEC institutions. Twenty-four 5- to 6-year-old children and their educators at two private daycare centers in Tokyo participated in this study. Interviews of the educators revealed that the children participated in four basic tasks at mealtime: 1) engaging with friends (for only institutions where children eat in a lunchroom), 2) concentrating on eating, 3) displaying good manners, and 4) not taking too much time to eat food they did not like (for only institutions where children eat in their own classroom). Children’s drawings and interviews did not reflect their specific activities as described by their educators. On the other hand, one child drew dishes in detail even though her educator stated she was not concentrating enough on eating. This result indicates that there might be a gap between educators’ and children’s perceptions.
