Video: Having a meal out

﻿Hi, I'm really looking forward to our lesson today. I hope you are too. Before we get started, this is just a little reminder. We're here to support any approaches you might already be using and any work you might have already been set. We know that this lesson is going to be going up to so many different children and families. So if you're not sure about anything or have any questions, then please do contact your usual therapy team. In today's lesson, we're going to look at going out for a meal, and everything that's involved in that, and try and find strategies to make it easier or more enjoyable for you. Okay today we're going to think a little bit about having your meals outside of your home. So at a restaurant or something like that. Okay now having meals out can be a really fun way to spend time with friends and family. It gives us a really nice chance to try different foods, and you can practise your skills such as using your cutlery, paying attention, dealing with distractions, and having to ask the waiter for example for your food or for something you might need. And it's also quite nice to meet friends at different places sometimes. I want you to pause the video now to get paper and pen or pencil, and then restart once you're done. Okay I would like you to chat to an adult and think about what worries you about going out for a meal. Sometimes you could worry about travelling to get there. So if you don't like car journeys or if you know you have to take a train, that that might worry you. You could worry about eating unfamiliar food, having to wait for your food and having to wait for others. So getting bored might worry you. Too much noise or too many food smells. Are you worried about not being able to use the cutlery that they give you in the restaurant? Are you worried about trying foods which are very different to what you normally have? Are you worried that you're going to eat really, really, really quickly, and then have to wait for everyone else while they finish their meal? Are you may be worried about getting hungry and having to wait for your food to arrive, or sometimes you might feel quite fidgety and struggle to sit still and you'd be worried about that? Pause the video now to complete your task. Resume once you're finished. Okay so these are some ideas of things that you can try. So if you're worried about eating unfamiliar food, you can ask an adult to show you the menu before you get there. And then you could have a look at things that you think, "Actually, oh, that's similar to what I would normally have." And then you can try that. It's a good time to look at the menu and find out what some things are if you don't know the meanings of them. If you're worried about having to wait for your food, you could take some really small quiet toys, or a fidget tool along. Check with an adult if they are happy with what you've decided to take. So you don't want to take a big, noisy musical toy, right? If you're worried that there's going to be too much noise, ask your parent or carer if they can book a table away from the main room, maybe a table that's not near the door. You could also wear some ear defenders or small headphones, and you can maybe see if it's possible for you to go at a time when it's not so busy. If you're worried about the cutlery, then you can absolutely take the usual cutlery that you would use along in a little zipped wallet. If you're worried about waiting for others, then eat slowly. Put your fork down in between each bite. If you're just feeling nervous in general, if you're worried, then ask an adult, your carer, or your parent, if you can stay for just a short while, and then gradually you can build up to this. And also tell them what you're feeling nervous about. If you're feeling fidgety, as I said, you could take a fidget tool or a different cushion to sit on. Look at the items and the suggestions on the previous page and think which of those might be useful to you. Ask an adult to help you. Think about which fidget you could take, what foods you could eat? Where do you think it's best to sit in the restaurant? If you know the restaurant, then you can know where you've sat before that maybe worked well or didn't work well. Which toys could you take? Ask an adult if they think it would be possible for your parents or your carer to take you for a short walk during the meal if you're feeling really fidgety. Pause the video to complete your task. Resume once you're finished. Remember, eating out can be fun. It's okay to feel a little bit worried. But just practise, practise, practise. Tell your parent, your carer what's worrying you, and see if you can work it out together. And remember when you go out for meals, everyone there is really very kind and understanding, and you don't need to worry. If you'd like to, please ask your parent or carer to share pictures of you going out for a meal on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, tagging @OakNational and #LearnwithOak. Bye.

Completed: Having a meal out

Going out for a meal does not have to be stressful or worrying. In this lesson we talk about strategies to help you when you go out for a meal.

Having a meal out

Video

Lesson Complete