The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

EP 22 | Progressive Mealtimes: Yay or Nay? with Elise Disher

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Show Notes

On today’s episode I speak with Elise Disher, early childhood consultant and advocate for thoughtful, child-centered practices. Elise dives into the concept of progressive mealtimes in early learning settings, breaking down how they work, why they matter, and how to implement them in ways that are both meaningful and practical. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to reimagine mealtime routines as opportunities for connection and learning.

Elise and I speak about: 🌸 What progressive mealtimes are and how they differ from traditional group mealtimes. 🌸 How mealtimes can shift from being rushed routines to meaningful rituals that foster connection and learning. 🌸 The role of autonomy, choice, and agency in progressive mealtimes. 🌸 Practical strategies to make progressive mealtimes work. 🌸 Addressing common challenges such as food safety, chaotic transitions, and preparing children for structured school settings. 🌸 Why intentionality and context matter - ain't no one-size-fits-all approach around here.

Elise is a mum of two and an Early Childhood Consultant and Teacher. Her mission is to create a movement in the way we educate and raise children so together we can improve the mental health outcomes of our next generation. Elise is passionate about promoting the importance of healthy attachment and developmentally responsive and attuned approaches in the first five years of life - she is BIG ON LITTLE PEOPLE!

Word of caution - this episode contains very mild explicit language.

Connect with Elise: 💫 Send her an email: [email protected] 💫 Find her on Instagram: @elisedisher.ed 💫 Visit her website: Elise Disher

Doors to The Behaviour Reset are OPEN! If you want to be able to understand the behaviour you're seeing, decide how to respond, and adapt your approach when things don't go to plan - without constantly questioning whether you're doing behaviour "right" - click here to join us! Doors close on October 22.

More from The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Oct 12, 2026

Are we expecting too much from children, or have we become a little too attached to what they should be able to do?

Oct 5, 2026

When did praising children become so dang controversial?!

Sep 28, 2026

What if we scaffolded children’s behaviour in the same way we already scaffold every other area of their learning?

Sep 21, 2026

Why can we have hundreds of behaviour strategies at our fingertips and still find ourselves wondering what the heck to actually do when behaviour gets hard?

Sep 14, 2026

How do we hold boundaries without becoming harsh - and stay responsive without feeling like we have to let everything go?

See all episodes →