Reducing Food Related Choking Policy

Rationale

Kia Marutau – Safe – is our foundational value and the reason we have a policy to ensure we’re taking all reasonable steps to reduce the risk of choking. Tamariki under 5 years old, and particularly those under 3 years old, are at greater risk of choking for several reasons:

• They have narrower air and food passages
• They are still learning how to move kai around in their mouths
• Their biting, chewing and food-grinding skills are still developing

The aim of this policy is to:

1. Help reduce the likelihood of food-related choking happening in our centres;
2. Meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education Licensing Criteria.

Policy Details

The policy applies to all kai and wai provided by, and/or served at Kindercare. The food and water must be prepared and/or served in a way that complies with our Nutrition Policy and Nourish Me menu. It also applies to kai and drinks provided by parents and whānau for consumption at Kindercare.

To provide a physically safe environment for babies, toddlers and preschoolers while they are eating, Kindercare will ensure that:

• Tamariki are seated and supervised by an adult while eating. The adult does not need to be seated but must:

  • have clear visibility of children eating

  • not be engaged in any other tasks that can take away their focus

  • be close enough to the children to intervene, if necessary, and

  • know how to respond if a child is choking or has an adverse reaction.

• Ratio requirements are met at all times when children are eating.

• Distractions are minimised, and children are encouraged to enjoy the mealtime ritual.

• There is a designated time for tamariki to sit down to eat together, rather than continuous grazing (getting up and down or leaving the table).

• Meals are social occasions for tamariki to kōrero, share time together and to learn mealtime etiquette like not talking with food in their mouth.

• Our team role model and chat to tamariki about the safety and importance of sitting up straight when they are eating and drinking.

• Children learn why it is not safe for them to walk, run, or play while they are eating and drinking.

• Where age appropriate, kai is placed directly in front of the child. This helps to reduce and prevent the need for tamariki to twist to the left or right, which could potentially mean they get distracted, and forget that they have food in their mouth.

• When tamariki are out of the centre on excursions, on lunchbox days, or having a picnic lunch in outside play areas, they must always be supervised and seated (on their bottoms) while eating.  

Certain foods pose the highest potential risk for causing tamariki to choke. Because these foods are also either not practical to adapt, have no or minimal nutritional value, or both, they must be excluded for children of all ages, who are in our care:

• whole, or pieces of, nuts

• large seeds, like pumpkin or sunflower seeds (if bliss blended)

• hard or chewy lollies (soft lollies are only for special events/parties)

• crisps or chippies

• hard rice crackers (acceptable options listed below)

• dried fruit (if bliss blended it can be used in baking)

• sausages, saveloys and cheerios

• popcorn

• marshmallows

List of crackers that can be served to tamariki:

• Pita bread / toast fingers (10-12 months)
• Rice cakes / mini rice cakes, wholemeal pita bread or wraps, corn thins; plain water thins/water crackers (all ages 1 – 5 years)
• Cruskits / Crisp bread (4 years and over)

High-risk food to adapt:

The following table shows which kai to adapt, why, and how to do it for different age groups.

Cooking activities in the rooms:
Tamariki can continue to enjoy cooking activities in their room as long as Kaiako follow the Ministry of Health Guidelines. 

Food records:
Food records / menus must be kept for 4 years. The Ministry of Education Licensing Criteria stipulate that menu records must be kept for a minimum of 3 months. However, for verification and traceability purposes, under the Ministry of Primary Industry’s National Programme Level 2, these records must be kept for 4 years. 

Kai provided for tamariki by parents and whānau:

When parents and whānau bring kai into the centre for the reasons listed below, or for any other reason, our team will ensure that we promote the Healthy Eating Guidelines as well as strongly encouraging parents to provide food that aligns closely with these.

Kai may be provided for:

• special occasions or celebrations
• a specific meal i.e. breakfast
• specific dietary requirements e.g. gluten free / vegan
• lunchbox lunches (Sessional rooms)

Afternoon Tea and Late Snacks:

We appreciate the reasons and occasions when parents and whānau arrive to pick up their child at the start of, or during, afternoon tea or late snack time. We also understand the reasons why it may be more convenient for them to take the kai with them, for their child to eat on the way home.

To support our partnership with parents and ensure no child misses out on food, this will be packaged up and handed to the parent or whānau. Our team will explain to the family that, as their child is not seated and supervised while eating, as required by Kindercare’s policy, we are giving them their child’s kai, and entrusting them with their child’s safety and supervision while eating.

Last reviewed: April 2026