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I have five children. My youngest is two. She is a juggernaut of curiosity, energy, and busy...and she loves helping me in the kitchen. (This is her helping me make her birthday cupcakes last spring, when we had her "Little Seedling Themed birthday party"...)
Toddler age:
1. separating the muffin/cupcake liners and putting them in the muffin pan.
2. give them a wooden spoon and a few bowls and plastic measuring cups to play with, ("cook with") while you are doing your own cooking.
3. hand over hand pouring in ingredients into the mixing bowl.
4. hand over hand stirring. I let Brooke stand on a step stool at the kitchen counter and this task makes her feel "so big"
5. Lick the beaters! (see above) By the way, licking the beaters (unattached, of course) is a great way to improve tongue strength and range of motion; a fun flavorful oral motor activity!
Preschool age:
1. Practice sequencing..."First we put in the milk , then we stir". Start with two steps then build from there!
2. Is your preschooler reading already? Then make flashcards of "Bake, Mix, Cook, and other age related length cooking or kitchen themed words"
3. Breaking the eggs. I taught this task to my older girls when they were three. Now 6 and 8, they can break and separate an egg better than most of my adult women friends.
4. Help you fold and put away the small kitchen linens: dishcloths and dishtowels.
5. Using a melon-baller or spoon to drop cookie dough onto the pan. This is a great way to bring in "smaller/bigger" or "more/less" as needed.
What can you add to these ideas? Share with me in the Comments!
There are so many homeschool/teachable moments that happen in the kitchen but the best part is the memories you make with your little ones when you take the time to include them...especially the wee little toddler ones, who are always so excited to get to be included. Alot of character can happen in the kitchen. One of my favorite books to read with my kids that are cooking and character related is
Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons on Love
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
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I always have so much fun working with my kids in the kitchen! Thanks for sharing the birthday party. Looks like it was a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI like making pumpkin bread, and the last time I made it, my 2 1/2 year old mixed the whole thing for me. It was a large batch, made 3 loaves. All of my kids love helping in the kitchen.
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