Kids learn about more than food in the kitchen
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Kids learn about more than food in the kitchen
Pregnancy, Baby Names, Birth, Baby & Parenting
1418 Turn dessert into a party -- set up a sundae bar. Choose ice cream, frozen yogurt or sherbet, AND offer a selection OF toppings, like fudge sauce, cookie crumbs, vanilla wafers or sprinkles.
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And, a little effort IN THE kitchen may help children develop an appreciation FOR what it takes TO put together a meal. Such togetherness often prompts relaxed conversation between parents AND children, promotes independence AND helps build self-confidence, too, she says.
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Choosing age-appropriate activities is, however, important, AND Walsten offers these suggestions:
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Younger children do need TO BE supervised. Hot pots AND pans or a stove top, electrical appliances, like mixers, bread machines or dishwashers, knives, shears or other kitchen utensils can BE problematic. Walsten offers these easy project ideas FOR parents AND children IN THE kitchen:
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"As children master new skills, they often are eager TO accept more responsibility IN THE kitchen. Their interest can provide enjoyable family times," says Walsten, who encourages parents TO teach children nutrition AND health while doing projects IN THE kitchen.
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A two-year old can wipe tabletops, snap green beans, scrub vegetables or wash salad greens.
2486 Asking kids TO help IN THE kitchen may speed dinner prep. It also may improve their report card.
"Encouraging children TO learn about food AND basic cooking skills can simplify family meals AND snacks. It also can help children expand their vocabularies, learn math AND practice their people skills as they learn TO enjoy cooking with others," says Kathy Walsten, Kansas State University nutrition educator. Learning TO read a recipe can help children learn new words AND actions, like pinch, roll AND slice. Measuring AND following THE steps IN a recipe also can help children practice math skills, learn about science -- why does THE bread rise? -- AND logic.
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A three-year old usually can pour cereal, spread soft spreads, like jam; place things IN THE trash, mix some ingredients, like dry ingredients FOR a quick bread, AND clear their place at THE table.
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Talk about where food comes from -- like milk from a cow that lives on a farm -- AND nutritional value (builds strong bones AND teeth), AND teach food safety. FOR example, remind children TO wash hands with soap AND water -- count TO 20 while lathering -- before AND after handling food. Prepare food on a clean table or countertop, using clean utensils. And, TO save later stresses, start teaching cleanup at an early age, she says.
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A five-to-six year old should BE able TO measure ingredients, break eggs into a bowl, cut with a blunt knife or use an egg beater.
96 Plan an indoor picnic. Ask children TO help fill a basket with summery foods; spread a tablecloth or blanket on THE floor IN a room other than THE kitchen AND HAVE a party.
4729 Make personal pizzas. Use prepared crusts or a can OF refrigerated biscuits. Roll biscuits TO flatten slightly; spread with pizza sauce AND toppings OF choice, like diced ham, crushed pineapple AND cheese.
Make a spider pretzel. FOR each, set OUT two round crackers, two teaspoons OF creamy peanut butter, eight stick pretzels AND two raisins. Make a cracker "sandwich" with THE crackers AND most OF THE peanut butter, insert pretzels as legs AND secure eyes with a small dab (remaining) OF peanut butter.
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A four-year old may BE ready FOR additional activities, such as setting THE table, peeling hard-cooked eggs; mashing bananas with a fork, or helping TO unload THE dishwasher.
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Encouraging children TO help IN THE kitchen can offer a lot OF pluses, not THE least OF which is THE fact that children usually are more willing TO eat foods they help prepare, Walsten says.
