More Than Just Meals: OneSky Cafeteria – A Place for Children to Grow and Learn
OneSky is determined to give children a space to grow and thrive, no matter their background. Recently, our community living room teamed up with community making group Baak6zou6 to turn our cafeteria into a hub for independent learning and food exploration. The cafeteria already provides affordable, nutritious meals for families, which has made it very popular with caregivers. But now it’s also a place for children to learn on their own and get hands-on with food.
Allie, one of Baak6zou6’s founders and a mother of two, says, “Children’s voices are often overlooked.” However, she emphasizes that OneSky values what the children have to say, which is why this collaboration was possible.
She added, “We usually think of schools when we think of learning spaces.” She believes that learning can happen anywhere, not just in designated spots with traditional tools.
The children participated in preparing ingredients in the cafeteria (left); Baak6zou6 designed food education game in the parent-child friendly cafeteria (right).
The cafeteria is an exciting, cozy place for learning, especially when it comes to food. Parents can help children learn to eat and build healthy habits during mealtimes. And children can explore the space and learn independently too. Allie thinks spaces don’t just serve a function—they can also bring parents and children closer together. As Allie mentions, “When people interact with a space more, they can help shape it over time.”
The group has been chatting with the OneSky community, including caregivers, teachers, and staff, to figure out what the cafeteria users need. Allie describes Baak6zou6 as “like the project’s facilitator,” helping OneSky identify and create what they need.
For example, caregivers often say children are picky eaters or don’t want to eat on their own. So, Baak6zou6 talked with them about using the cafeteria to tackle these challenges—like helping children understand food and where it comes from, so they can discover their relationship with it and make mealtimes more meaningful.
After several rounds of discussions, Baak6zou6 worked with OneSky to transform the cafeteria. They set up children-sized tables and utensil carts so children can collect their own items after eating, boosting caregiver confidence in letting children be independent.
They also added planting areas so children can watch veggies grow, plus food-themed books and games the children can explore on their own while caregivers relax.
June, a mother of two, expresses her appreciation for the recent improvements in the school cafeteria:
“I have noticed that the cafeteria has recently added some games and picture books. After finishing their meals, the children can now play by themselves. There is also a small corner where the children can vote on what they ate in the cafeteria today. These activities are quite engaging. In the past, after finishing their lunch, the children would immediately run outside to play, and I had to quickly clean up and follow them out. Now, they are willing to stay in the cafeteria a bit longer, and I can enjoy my meal properly.”
Baak6zou6 even turned the cafeteria into a family cooking space, with children-friendly tools and illustrated cards showing cooking steps children can join in on. One mother shared that her daughter, who hated tomato eggs, “loved the ones we made together.”
Allie expresses that the goal is to give children the opportunities to work on their own, build self-care skills, and discuss food and nutrition with their caregivers. That way, the grown-ups can feel more confident in letting the children take the lead.
Design of the cafeteria and newly provided game sets bring children closer to food.
Phyllis Chan, the OneSky programs director, says that teaming up with Baak6zou6 gave caregivers a chance to speak up and be heard. Instead of OneSky just deciding everything, she emphasizes that they plan the cafeteria with the users so their ideas and needs can be met. It’s like parenting—“we think we know best, but the children might want something different.”
By working together, OneSky hopes caregivers will take the same approach at home, respecting children’s opinions and allowing them to participate in decisions about their lives.
This post is also available in: 中文
