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Cooking with your child
Is it a struggle to get your kids to eat healthy and nutritious foods? Try having your child cook with you. Cooking is a great way to spend quality time together! Cooking is also a fun way to learn basic concepts in math, build small motor muscles, follow directions, and try out nutritious foods.
If a child feels that they have “helped” you prepare the family meal, they will be proud of their accomplishments and more likely to eat it. They can even look through recipe cards or magazines and choose the recipes they would like to try (pictures included, of course).
Make the time you spend together fun! Keep in mind the child’s age and the things they would be great at doing. For instance:
Two-year olds (who are learning to use the large muscles in their arms) can help scrub vegetables and fruit, wash and tear lettuce and salad greens, or break bread into pieces.
Three year olds (learning to control their hands) can help pour liquids into a batter, mix together dry and wet ingredients, helping throw things away, and spread butter.
Four and Five year olds (learning to control the small motor muscles in their fingers) can help crack eggs, measure dry ingredients, mash soft vegetables, and help set the table.
Don’t allow yourself to get easily frustrated. We all know it would faster (and less messy) to just do it ourselves. But, don’t miss out on such an amazing opportunity to spend time with and teach your child. And be careful! You might have a great time too!
For more information, check out these websites!
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