COOKING WITH CHILDREN: KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. They will enjoy activities such as:

scrubbing vegetables and fruits

wiping tables

dipping vegetables and fruits

tearing lettuce and salad greens

breaking bread for stuffing

snapping fresh beans

Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Try activities such as:

pouring liquids into a batter

mixing muffin batter

shaking a milk drink

spreading peanut butter on firm bread (This may be messy!)

kneading bread dough

Four- and five-year-olds are learning to control smaller muscles in their fingers. Offer them experiences such as:

rolling bananas in cereal for a snack

juicing oranges, lemons, and limes

mashing soft fruits and vegetables

measuring dry and liquid ingredients

grinding cooked meat for a meat spread

beating eggs with an eggbeater

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

Good cooks of all ages always wash their hands before cooking.

Tell children to wait until the dish is done before sampling it. This will help prevent illness.

Expect spills and messes.

Children have short attention spans. Give them quick, simple jobs, and give instructions one at a time.

Children get excited and forget. Repeat directions as often as needed.

Young cooks need constant supervision.

Give children jobs to help with cleanup.

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Van Horn, J. E. (Ed.) and L. Horning (Ed.) (1995). Cooking with children: kids in the kitchen. In Todd, C.M. (Ed.). *Family child care connections* 4(6). Urbana, IL: National Network for Child Care at the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.