Ironhorse
Oct 08, 2007, 03:46 PM
My grandkids love to help in the kitchen. Anytime I'm cooking, which is everyday, they're right there by my side, wanting to know what they can do to help. Even if it's just getting out the plates and tableware and napkins, they want to help. Why? Because, I think, it's not an assigned chore. To help is considered a reward, so that keeps it fun for them. And they have special things that they do getting food ready. They're 7 and 8, I don't let them use knives (I'm afraid they'll use them on each other sometimes, LOL), but seriously, I cut stuff up and then they put the ingredients in the pots, or in plates, etc. My granddaughter has graduated to using the Salad Shooter and she's a shooting fiend, LOL. Her first question is always "do I need to grate cheese?" (It is fantastic for grating hard cheeses such as cheddar for tacos or casseroles, etc., can get the job done in a fraction of time a grater takes.) She also has learned to flip her first pancakes, with me standing practically on top of her to make sure she didn't get burned. They have an electric stove, I probably wouldn't have let her do it with a gas stove. The kids are learning about measurements, without realizing they are, learning kitchen safety (keeping cutting boards, hands and utensils clean and safe while you're using them), learning more about the foods they eat, and learning how to experiment with spices and herbs and other seasonings. They are also learning to cook, simple things right now, but by the time they move out on their own, they'll both be able to cook.
The kids love to make their own breakfast, Eggo Waffles (I monitor the syrup), bagels, cereal and fruit. And many times ask if they can make their own lunch if it's a day they want to take cold lunch. They make a sandwich (PBJ or turkey, etc.) then we talk about what else to have with it. They'll say a cookie and I'll say, ooooo, I just bought some grapes (or celery or carrots, etc.) and they'll usually opt for the healthy things.
When I make meatloaf or meatballs, the kids help me mix it and make the meatballs. When I cook them, I usually have a line near the stove (Dad, the kids and two dogs), each waiting for their "sample" of a fresh cooked meatball. When I cut things up, the kids put it in the pots, or bowls, or crockpot, etc. anything that lets them help with making the meal. They eat a lot of different things now that they wouldn't eat before, because they helped make the meal with those things. We have fun, get to catch up on what happened at school or while I was gone on the weekends, can make plans for what we're going to do, and even get some homework done like flash cards and spelling practice. Where am I going with this, LOL, who knows, I just felt like writing about how to have some fun in the kitchen.
The kids love to make their own breakfast, Eggo Waffles (I monitor the syrup), bagels, cereal and fruit. And many times ask if they can make their own lunch if it's a day they want to take cold lunch. They make a sandwich (PBJ or turkey, etc.) then we talk about what else to have with it. They'll say a cookie and I'll say, ooooo, I just bought some grapes (or celery or carrots, etc.) and they'll usually opt for the healthy things.
When I make meatloaf or meatballs, the kids help me mix it and make the meatballs. When I cook them, I usually have a line near the stove (Dad, the kids and two dogs), each waiting for their "sample" of a fresh cooked meatball. When I cut things up, the kids put it in the pots, or bowls, or crockpot, etc. anything that lets them help with making the meal. They eat a lot of different things now that they wouldn't eat before, because they helped make the meal with those things. We have fun, get to catch up on what happened at school or while I was gone on the weekends, can make plans for what we're going to do, and even get some homework done like flash cards and spelling practice. Where am I going with this, LOL, who knows, I just felt like writing about how to have some fun in the kitchen.