Something’s Cooking!
November, 2011
Kid Tested Recipes
We have a new Parent Power video for November, and also check the Downloads page for printable recipes.
This month you’ll find some of my favorite “kid-tested” recipes. They’re simple, fun, easy, and healthy. (Well, most of them are fairly nutritional!
All things in moderation is the best motto!)
Cooking is an ideal way to learn because it involves all five senses. Math, language, science, nutrition, social, small motor, and emotional skills are all enhanced with cooking experiences.
Here are some HELPFUL HINTS for activities that will be successful and tasteful!
- Have all equipment and ingredients ready before you begin.
- Allow children to do as much as they can. Choose recipes where they can experience success.
- Take advantage of the “teachable moment” by stressing hygiene and etiquette.
- Discuss where foods come from, how they are grown, and other nutrition and science concepts.
- Explain the entire recipe step by step. Go over what the cooking terms mean and demonstrate what they should do. Teach the children how to use the utensils safely.
- Illustrate recipes with pictures and drawings. You might use the rebus recipes you can download, or make step-by-step cards or posters.
- Give children choices. Not all children like the same thing, so allow them to individualize their serving if they wish.
- Be aware of food allergies. (Cream cheese or honey can easily be substituted for children who have peanut allergies.)
- Children don’t like to wait, so use recipes where they can make their food and eat it right away.
- Encourage children to talk and comment on the way foods taste. Use graphs to compare foods that they like best.
- Invite parents to be “chef of the week.” They can come in and cook with the children or simply provide the ingredients for the coking activity.
- Relate cooking experiences to classroom themes and skills. Make a “Zoo Train” for a trip to the zoo or a “Spider Sandwich”’ for THE VERY BUSY SPIDER.
- Keep it SIMPLE! The fewer ingredients and steps involved, the more fun it will be for the children and for you!
Happy stirring,
beating,
mixing,
and eating!!
Your little chefs will love these hats! Cut a strip of heavy white paper or cardboard 3” x 25”. Glue one end of a sheet of tissue paper that measures 12” x 20” to the inside of the headband. Fit the cardboard band to the child’s head and staple. Gather the loose end of the tissue paper to the back of the band and staple in place.
