subject: Simple Recipes For Kids [print this page] Is Your Child Ready to Start Cooking?
You're standing at the counter, absentmindedly stirring a pot of pasta on the stove for your child's dinner, when a shrill voice pierces your ears."Let me do it. Mommy, Mommy, I wanna try." Startled, you look down to find your child gesturing for the wooden spoon in your hand. You shoo them away, but the whole experience leaves you wondering.
Of course you know you shouldn't have handed over the spoon and left your child to fend for themselves in a roomful of flaming burners, but should you have let them butter the pasta or help with the salad?
When exactly should you allow your kid to take some of the responsbility for their own meals? I say, if your child is big enough to handle a spoon and is asking to help, let them!
Dinner is the most popular meal to eat together as a family, so letting your child cook for themselves often doesn't fit into your plans. However, to introduce your child to the concept of making dinner, consider setting aside one or two nights a month as "fend-for-yourself" nights, when everyone in your family cooks their own meals. Some great dinner ideas for your child to make are finger sandwiches, tacos, and baked potatoes.
Especially if you're a stay-at-home mom, having your child make their own lunch once in a while can save you loads of time and work. Helping your child create their own fun lunch recipes can make for some great bonding time. Putting fun twists on finger sandwiches, mini pizzas, and easy salads make for an entertaining cooking process and a delicious lunch!
Finding something for your child to create on their own for breakfast can be a difficult task, because most breakfast recipes include cooking on a flame. However, peanut butter sandwiches or yogurt parfaits can be a great healthy, simple start to the day. Plus, your child can begin the day with the satisfaction of knowing he created something independently.
Snacks are the perfect thing to start your child out making when you're not sure they can handle creating their own full meal. Making snacks usually requires simply putting things together, without any flames or sharp knives. Some great snack ideas for children to make themselves are fruit and cheese kabobs, dip and veggie platters, or air popped popcorn.
Giving your child a limited amount of self-sufficiency and letting them use their creative license when it comes to cooking can boost their self-confidence and stimulate their artist's brain. However, for safety purposes, be sure to keep a close eye on your little chef the entire time they're cooking, and always handle any steps that require sharp knives or flames.
by: Michael Fletcher
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