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PLATES: Preschool Learning Around Temperament, Eating and Self-Regulation |
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What is PLATES?PLATES is a supportive parent workshop for parents and caregivers of children aged 2–6 years.
The workshop is designed to help parents better understand children’s eating behaviours, mealtime challenges, and the emotional side of feeding in a practical, supportive, and non-judgemental way. |
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Why has this workshop been developed?
Many young children go through phases of food fussiness, emotional eating, or conflict around mealtimes. These can be common in the preschool years and often reflect normal development, including growing independence, and learning about our emotions. Even when these challenges are common, they can still feel stressful for parents and can affect feeding and mealtimes.
PLATES has been developed to support parents in understanding these challenges more clearly and feeling more confident in how to respond. The workshop is based on the idea that feeding is not only about what children eat, but also how they eat, how they feel around food, and how mealtimes are experienced.
PLATES has been developed to support parents in understanding these challenges more clearly and feeling more confident in how to respond. The workshop is based on the idea that feeding is not only about what children eat, but also how they eat, how they feel around food, and how mealtimes are experienced.
What will the workshop cover?
PLATES will run over 6 weekly sessions, each lasting around 60 - 90 minutes. Sessions will include helpful information, guided discussion, reflective activities, and practical strategies for home.
How can PLATES help?
The workshop is designed to help parents better understand common eating behaviours in early childhood and
understand how child temperament and emotions can influence feeding challenges. The workshop aims to provide parents with tools, to build confidence when responding in the mealtime environment. It aims to help parents feel more informed, more confident, and less stressed around feeding and mealtimes.
understand how child temperament and emotions can influence feeding challenges. The workshop aims to provide parents with tools, to build confidence when responding in the mealtime environment. It aims to help parents feel more informed, more confident, and less stressed around feeding and mealtimes.
What would taking part involve?
Parents who choose to take part would be asked to attend the weekly workshop sessions, complete a short questionnaire before the workshop begins and a short follow-up questionnaire at the end of the 6 weeks.
This is because the workshop forms part of accredited Stage 2 Health Psychology training and includes an evaluation of how the programme helps improve parental knowledge and confidence. All information collected will be anonymised, stored securely, and reported only at group level.
This is because the workshop forms part of accredited Stage 2 Health Psychology training and includes an evaluation of how the programme helps improve parental knowledge and confidence. All information collected will be anonymised, stored securely, and reported only at group level.
A final thought; supportive workshop for parents
PLATES is intended to be a supportive space for parents to reflect, learn, and share experiences.
It is about helping parents better understand children’s eating behaviours and feel more confident in creating calmer, more positive mealtime experiences at home.
It is about helping parents better understand children’s eating behaviours and feel more confident in creating calmer, more positive mealtime experiences at home.
Interested?
Please get in touch with Mrs Cadden to register your interest for the workshop, looking to take place in the summer term.