To get to know the children's parents better, they can be invited to a meal. The meal is prepared with the children and the parents can only come at the arranged time, sit down and enjoy the cooked meal.
Important!
- Inform the parents in good time about the date (already in the half/quarter program) and send out invitations at least one month in advance or bring them personally/invite them!
- Mandatory registration: In order to cook the right amount, it must be known how many people will be at the meal. Therefore, fix a registration deadline (about a week before the meal)!
- Prepare a meal that many children can help with and which is easy to prepare/cook!
- Enough kitchen material (knives, "cutting boards and scissors", etc.) at hand and always continue to wash up!
- Always explain everything to the children exactly and note that they are often not as fast as adults!
Process (may vary)
- Children are divided into groups - for example: appetizer, main course, dessert - possibly also: main course, side dishes, decorating action/tables/service.... etc.
- Leaders of each group explain to the children what needs to be done and prepare and carry out the tasks with the children.
- Breaks are important - already at the beginning inform the children about the break time and then keep it - all children will be happy!
- Also give the children the opportunity to change groups.
- Time management - well planned is half won! Making sure that every child is always busy and that everything is ready when parents arrive!
- There needs to be a "welcoming committee" for parents so that they are aware of the leaders and feel comfortable right at the beginning!
- Once parents, children and leaders - everyone - are seated, the main leader (or)/person in charge should introduce the whole leadership team so that parents know who they are entrusting their children to!
- Thank the parents that they trust the leadership team! (Here, for example, a small gift can additionally be distributed to the parents.)
- The individual leaders should "mingle" well with the parents, because the goal is that parents and leaders get to know each other better.
- Start the meal with a prayer or song - this can also be prepared with the children.
- Serve food or barrel street(s) with service/self-service.
- During the meal, various "show blocks" can also enhance the occasion. These can be prepared with the children in advance (songs, theatre, games, ... etc.) or/and the leadership team can use this to announce information, show pictures/photos, give parents the opportunity to express themselves (for example: discuss a specific topic, general feedback round, questions/answers about the upcoming camp, ... etc.) and much more ...
- Close the meal - thank parents for accepting the invitation and coming to the meal - say goodbye to the parents and children.
- Clean up, wash up and clean up - feedback/evaluation in the leadership team!
- Confess parents in writing a few days later - for example, with a thank you card and/or photos taken at the meal ... etc.
Possible meals to prepare
- Various salads, meat/brisket from the grill or pan
- Soups with sausages and homemade bread
- Pizza - make your own dough and let kids top it
- Spagetthi with a variety of homemade sauces
- Dips with vegetable sticks, various sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs
- For dessert: homemade cookies, muffins, cakes decorated by the children, gingerbread(-häuser), chocolate fondue, chocolate bananas, fruit salad, ice cream, ... etc.
Image credits
- Title image:
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