Serving themselves and passing food develop motor skills. Social skills and language develop through light conversation. The adult can encourage this by talking about the food, good eating habits and table manners. Children feel relaxed and free to talk with each other. The picky eater may see others accepting food and want to try it as well.

To help familiarize children with family-style service, allow them to pretend to eat at a table with other children during playtime.

Provide a table and play dinnerware and show the children the proper way to set the table. Keep food safety in mind (for example if a cups falls on the floor it must be washed). Discuss the proper way the children can serve food, taking proper amounts and a variety of foods, what to do about spills, cleaning up after the meal and table manners. Reinforce manners such as using 'please' and 'thank you' and being aware that everyone has been served before eating.

Remember these tips when using family-style meal service:

• Children should wash hands before helping with the meal and sitting down to eat.
• Adults should model by washing hands also.
• Children should never handle any raw meat. Be careful of cross-contamination.
• Surfaces should be cleaned before children come to help prepare food.
• Hands should be washed after handling each food item.
• Make sure that sharp knives have been put away.
• Wash hands after cleanup.