How to handle childcare with a vegan child
Having vegan children comes with plenty of hurdles, but once they are ready for childcare or school it can bring a whole new level of anxiety for parents, especially in a mostly non-vegan society.
Being a father myself I have had experience with our two children going through childcare, and it has certainly had its ups and downs, but this guide will be helpful for vegan parents looking for a stress-free childcare experience.
COMMUNICATION:
I have personally found that with veganism in general, communication is key in most aspects in a non-vegan society, and it’s absolutely vital to have open communication with your childcare about your child and their requirements.
From my personal experience, communication with our childcare was an important factor when we decided to move to a vegan lifestyle.
We organised a meeting with the head of the centre and chef to discuss the requirements and what veganism entailed (you’d be surprised how many people don’t fully understand the restrictions of vegans).
Opening up those communication lines makes it easier to juggle awkward, but avoidable, situations in the future. Likewise, the educators of the childcare centre will be more open to discuss their concerns or any questions that they may have.
PROVIDE HELPFUL RESOURCES TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER:
This was such a helpful tip with my children’s childcare and relieved a lot of anxiety surrounding food being provided.
In Australia, all childcare centres have an on-site chef and a set of dietary guidelines to follow to ensure that children are provided with food throughout their stay.
While many vegans can easily make their way through a supermarket and can identify what’s vegan, most non-vegans aren’t that knowledgeable. Providing our childcare with a booklet of vegan substitutes to common meals they have on rotation at the centre made it easier for the centre’s chef, as well as our children not feeling ‘different’ to their peers when eating.
Simple substitutes included mock meat alternatives such as mince and sausages, plant milks, cake alternatives (a lot of centres provide a birthday cake for children) and other biscuit and snack items. Preparing a list of these items and where to find them, makes their life easier to ensure they prepare their food shops to cater for your vegan child.
Alternatively, if you are good in the kitchen, you can also offer to bring in snacks or meals for your children to eat. Communicating with your centre about their weekly menu can make preparation easier by making similar veganised meals.
Additionally, providing easy recipes to the centre’s chef that you know your children enjoys, can make a world of difference. Check out my simple recipes here
GETTING INVOLVED:
Studies show that when parents get involved in an activity, children show a stronger overall engagement.
Our centre celebrates many significant dates throughout the year, including Plant a Tree day. This is where children can bring in a plant or tree to the centre to get involved.
This is where I’ve taken it upon myself to go to our local garden store to purchase some trees with our children (getting them involved is part of the fun!) and then taking them to our childcare and assist in planting them with the children.
With children seeing you get involved, it makes the experience much more engaging and fun for them.
If your childcare has field trips or often requires parent input, then step up to the plate and get involved! Suggesting a local animal sanctuary could be a fantastic experience for all of the children.
ASK QUESTIONS:
Finding a childcare that will be willing to accommodate your requirements can be daunting, but organising tours of centres and asking plenty of questions where you can confidentially walk away feeling that your requirements can/will be met is a massive relief for new parents.
So, when organising tours with centres, be sure to be prepared and have plenty of questions ready!
*Let me know some of the helpful tips that have worked for you with your vegan children and child care. I am always happy to learn more and teach others