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and purpose, but also keeps
cooking messes off of your regular
clothing. In addition, this sense of
uniform may aid your little chef in
remembering that he is “on duty.”
This will go a long way towards
reducing kitchen shenanigans and
will keep his attention on the task
at hand.
Simple Entry-level Jobs:
Washing up vegetables, peeling
oranges, snapping the heads off
green beans, etc., are all jobs
suitable for young fingers. Other
tasks which may be attempted
with minimal assistance from
you are: stirring cake batter,
carefully grating carrots or peeling
vegetables, measuring ingredients,
kneading pizza dough, spreading nut
butters and building sandwiches,
mashing potatoes (if cool enough),
scooping out avocados, serving
portions, cake decorating, etc.
If your child is either a competent
reader, or becoming one, you
can put him “in charge” of the
recipe. Giving children a specific
responsibility makes them feel
trusted and a part of the team.
Giving your child choices, even
simple ones, such as, which dinner
vegetable to cook or what color
the frosting should be, helps
involve them more in the entire
process and keeps the lines of
communication open.
And let us not leave out clean
up. Tidying up after baking those
chocolate chip cookies can be a
wonderful way to instill a sense
of completeness and ownership.
Allow Jonny to sweep the floor or
Lucy to dry a few stirring spoons.
Let them know that the cleanup
process is part and parcel of the
whole activity.