From the Book: Super Easy Bag Lunches By Maxine
Sprague
Cooking with your children is a
great way to involve them in the process of decision
making and taking responsibility for themselves.
Cooking also helps them develop a sense of
accomplishment, practice language and math skills
and gives them an opportunity to share their
creations with others. As a bonus, children are more
likely to eat foods they've prepared themselves and
they will be more willing to make their own snacks,
meals and bag lunches when they have the skills to
be successful at it.
Plan Ahead
Choose a time when you will be
relaxed and not distracted by other interruptions.
Easier said than done, I know. Beginning cooks need
lots of patience and time to learn by doing things
for themselves. A relaxed pace will help you resist
grabbing the utensils to do it yourself.
Supervise
Have an adult nearby to help with
sharp utensils, electric appliances and the stove.
Prepare
Wear an apron or old clothes. Tie
back long hair, roll up long sleeves and remove
jewelry.
Organize
Read the entire recipe and gather
ingredients and utensils before you begin. If you
put each ingredient away as you use it, it will be
easy to tell what you have already put in, if you
get interrupted in the middle of the recipe.
Safety First
Turn pot handles inward away from
other burners so they don't overheat or get knocked
off the stove. Never reach across burners or pots
that are hot. Use pot holders or oven mitts for
handling hot utensils. Never use wet cloths as steam
will form and burn you.
Be careful with electric cords.
Use dry hands to unplug them and make sure they
aren't laying across a stove burner or dangling onto
the floor. Have a tray or rack handy to set items on
for cooling. Double check that you have turned all
appliances off when finished cooking.
With a little help and a lot of
encouragement your children will become confident
cooks with the ability to prepare meals and make bag
lunches on their own. Get cooking and have fun with
your kids.
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