I’ve touched on this issue briefly in prior posts. But I think the idea of getting kids, who are home because of COVID-19 school closures, involved in meal prep is a great way to allay boredom, get the kids off their personal tech for a while, and foster an interest in cooking…
Getting the kids involved in meal preparation is a fun,
educational way to beat the COVID-19 blues…
Kids can do a lot in the kitchen. And you’ll find they love to ‘play’ with food, especially when the end result is delicious! I came across a post on the website of the Elizabethtown, KY, weekly, The News Enterprise which goes into detail about how kids can ‘help’ in the kitchen.
County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Science Dayna Fentress gave The News Enterprise some good tips, which I reprint here with thanks to the newspaper:
Families should get everyone involved in the cooking process, even toddlers can assist with basic tasks like pouring, mixing, wiping up afterwards, rolling and more,” she said. “Let your children know what’s in the pantry and see if they can come up with a combination of ingredients that makes a meal.”
While cooking, she said talk about the importance of food safety and hand washing and let them know how to tell which surfaces are hot.
Fentress said there are age-related cooking activities kids can participate in.
• Two-year-olds can scrub fruits and vegetables, carry unbreakable items to the table, wash and tear lettuce and salad greens and break bread or other ingredients into pieces.
• At age 3, kids can pour liquid into batter, mix ingredients, shake liquid in a closed container, spread butters or other soft spread, knead dough, wash fruits and vegetables, serve foods and assist with clean up.
• Four- and 5-year-olds can juice oranges, lemons and limes, peel some fruits and vegetables, mash soft fruits and veggies, cut soft foods with a plastic knife, press cookie or other food cutters, measure dry ingredients, crack and beat eggs, set the table and assist with clean up.
“As long as everyone is safe, there’s no reason children shouldn’t help in the kitchen,” she said, adding helping cook the meal might even get picky eaters to try more foods.
Fentress adds, cooking is an activity that can help kids learn about math, science, reading, creative arts, cultures and history, nutrition and health, and more.
My take
The News Enterprise article also contains some great ideas on how to keep the kids occupied when they’re not in the kitchen. Features Reporter Becca Owsly has put together a really good read…
~ Maggie J.