Food can be FUN for children but remember that play is a child’s work and his/her way of learning about the world.  Just what can a child LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD from food and cooking?

            *Patience -- as they go through a series or tasks or wait for something to bake,

            cool, etc.

            *Sense of Timing -- as they wait 15 minutes for something to bake, they begin to

            develop a vague understanding of time.

            *Coordination -- stirring, peeling, pouring, etc. give your child a chance to develop

            his/her fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination.

            *Responsibility -- helping with a necessary task helps a child learn that he/she can

            contribute to the “good” of the family.

            *Cooperation -- taking turns, sharing equipment, etc. help prepare your child for

            working in groups and teams in the future.

            *Pre-Math and Science Skills...

               -Classification -- Which of these foods are red?  (sorting by color is one of the first

               ways children learn to classify)  Later, ask “Which of these white foods (milk,

               potatoes, bread) is a vegetable?”

             -Sequencing -- following a step-by-step recipe and learning to do things in order.

               What must we do with the apples before we can bake them? (concept of before

               and after)

               -Counting & even introduction to Fractions -- How many pieces of fruit are in

               the bowl?  How many apples do you see? (hold up 1 apple) What will happen if I

               cut this apple in half?

              -Shapes/Sizes -- Which is bigger -- an apple or a grape?  Name the round foods on

               your plate.

              -Prediction -- What do you think will happen when you add chocolate syrup to the

               white milk?  How many grapes would fit in this container?  (hold up and apple &

               grapes; then actually put grapes in the container as you count them)

               -Observation -- Did you notice the change in the biscuits after they baked?

               -Comparison and Contrast -- How are these 2 apples different? (hold up 2 apples

               of different colors) How are they the same?

               -Nutrition -- learning about the Food Guide Pyramid and the types of food in each

               category.

           *Memory Development -- Could you please tell Grandma what you did to make

                this sandwich?

           *Communication -- learning to follow directions, discussing and talking about

                food helps children learn word meanings, sentence structure, and the flow of

                language.  Talking with you child and engaging them in conversation now helps

                develop a pattern for relationship in the future.

            *Pride in a job well done/ Sense of Accomplishment -- learning to complete a

                task well is a necessary skill and when better to learn it!  Be sure to match the

                task with you child’s age:

                   *Examples of a child’s capabilities by age...

                             Age 1 - 2:

                                Stirring

                                Shaking

                                Toss Salad

                                Wipe his/her place settings

                                Throw away trash

                                Add napkins to a table setting

                             Age 2 - 3:

                                Put toast in toaster

                                Pour from a small, lightweight pitcher

                                Arrange food on a plate

                                Peel bananas if the top is cut

                                Cut bananas with a butter/kitchen knife

                                Open packages

                                Roll or pat out dough

                                Spread butter, etc. -- make sandwiches

                                Shape burger or meatballs (for sanitation purposes, child should wear

                                plastic bags on hangs as they complete this task)