The kitchen classroom

There is so much for children to learn by spending time in the kitchen. While it would be much easier for me to send Nicholas off to play while I'm fixing dinner, I often encourage him to stay and help me - even though it make take twice as long by doing so! It can make cooking fun and educational. Here are just some of the things that Nicholas can learn with me in the kitchen:

1. Organization and preparation - We discuss what we want to make and pick out a recipe. I tell him the ingredients that we need and he helps me get them out of the pantry or the refrigerator, then we make a list of what we still need and go to the grocery store. At the store, I ask him to help me find the ingredients on the shelves. This not only helps him learn but it also keeps him from running aimlessly up and down the aisles while I do the shopping.

2. Math skills - We discuss units of measurement such as a cup vs a half cup as well as tablespoons, teaspoons, etc. He also counts as he puts multiple spoonfuls of an ingredient into a bowl.

3. Terminology - We discuss what terms mean such as saute, kneading, mince vs chop, bake, etc.

4. Science - We discuss the importance of yeast and how it makes dough rise. We discuss germs, how they can make us sick, and the importance of washing our fruits and vegetables as well as our hands.

5. Motor skills - Nicholas can learn how to chop (using soft foods and a butter knife), knead dough, roll dough, use cookie cutters, crack eggs (needs much more practice!), and mixing. When pouring he can experiment with different ways to pour and learn which way is the neatest and most effective.

It's a virtual classroom right in the kitchen! The learning possibilities are really endless yet we are having fun and spending quality time together.

These are pictures of Nicholas helping me make pesto. He helped me wash the basil and spinach. He used measuring cups to measure the basil, spinach, walnuts and olive oil. He used measuring spoons to measure salt, pepper, and minced garlic. He practiced pouring the ingredients into the food processor and he loved pressing the button to pulse it all into our pesto. Of course, it makes eating more fun when he knows that he helped to prepare the food himself!