Are you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the learner for demonstrating appropriate mealtime behaviors: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

2. Converse with the learner to explain (a) what he/she is doing wrong (e.g., eating with their fingers) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., using a fork or other utensil).

3. Praise those students who demonstrate appropriate mealtime behaviors.

4. Praise the learner for demonstrating appropriate mealtime behaviors based on the duration of time the learner can be successful. As the learner shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.

5. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., having appropriate mealtime behaviors or disposing of his/her food in the trash can) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

6. Connect with parents to disseminate information about the learner’s progress. The parents may reinforce the learner at home for demonstrating appropriate mealtime behaviors at school.

7. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

8. Select a peer to model appropriate mealtime behaviors for the learner.

9. Get the learner to question any instructions, expectations, or directions they do not understand.

10. Give the learner a list of clearly defined mealtime behavioral expectations (e.g., rules for the cafeteria serving line, sitting at tables, remaining seated, use of utensils, disposing of trash, etc.).

11. Praise other students for demonstrating appropriate mealtime behaviors.

12. Assess the appropriateness of the learner eating with a group of peers. If appropriate, have the learner eat with one peer and slowly increase the size of the group as the learner experiences success.

13. Train the learner in the appropriate use of eating utensils in both simulation and actual eating situations.

14. Train the learner in appropriate mealtime conversation (e.g., topics to discuss, asking conversational questions, speaking quietly, etc.).