What Skills Are Your Kids Cooking Up?

In today's world children need to know morethe fast food variety. Now available are "fresh
information and skills before they attend kindergartenlooking" fruits and vegetables, dairy, grains and
therefore, parents and caregivers need to knowproteins. You can also find dry goods and spices.
which activities should be introduced to help themAt the same time, children will learn good food
develop those skills.choices and become familiar with the four food
These skills are only learned through play andgroups, strengthen their hands by cutting and stirring,
constant trial and error practices until they move ondevelop math skills by counting, sorting, and
to the next skill and perfect it. If the previous skill ismeasuring, and improve eye-hand coordination by
not perfected however, then the child will be missingpouring. It's wonderful what a simple kitchen set can
that component for the following skill. As theteach your child!
developmental stages build from one to the next,Children love to do what their parents do, cooking a
children can get left behind and the unlearned skillsmeal and serving it, or having a tea party or pretend
may not be noticed until they are further down thelunch with their stuffed animals or dolls. They learn
road.which foods go in the cupboard and which foods go
Pretend play is a good way to practice many skills.in the refrigerator. It is also a fun way to practice
At the age of three children are ready to have theircleaning up by "washing" and putting away the dishes
own miniature size play kitchen and utensils. They willand food.
learn the names and uses of each kitchen tool andGive your children the ingredients they need to cook
have fun in the process. There are many packagedup there skills for a bright future.
play foods, but I would caution using too many of