Children learn to pay attention to cues from their own bodies and eat what they need when they need it. They take charge their eating. Snack tables also provide great learning opportunities for children. Children practice counting behaviors. Children learn about measurement in a meaningful context.
Children learn the names of foods and increase language skills.
Children develop fine motor skills, like pouring juice. Yes, sometimes they will, especially at the beginning. Providers can look at these situations as problems, or as teaching opportunities. Don't cry over spilled juice. It can be cleaned up with the children's help.