If you have a toddler or preschooler, do you ever feel like you have a shadow when you're cleaning around the house or making dinner? Adult chores may be boring and monotonous to you, but they are exciting to your child! Their favorite activities are things they see you doing every day. Instead of having them mimic you doing these tasks, involve them! The kitchen is the perfect place to start.
If a toddler next to you in the kitchen makes you nervous, try using these Montessori method-inspired tips! Montessori education is a child-led, hands-on approach developed by Maria Montessori, an Italian educator. It supports a child’s love of learning and encourages the development of practical life skills. Learn more about the Montessori method in Montessori for Every Family.
Cooking together with young children is a great way to teach hands-on skills and build confidence. As you cook together, read the recipe out loud and discuss each step. Let your child try new foods and use words to describe them, like "that lemon is sour." Keep things simple and be patient as you let your child try:
- washing and drying fruits or vegetables
- helping prep foods by mashing bananas, squeezing lemons or pounding dough
- scooping and measuring
- pouring
- stirring
- washing or drying dishes
If you have a budding chef on your hands, read these books once all the dishes are put away!
Try using recipes from a cookbook especially for children, like The No-cook Cookbook or 1, 2, 3 Cook!
Practice all kinds of daily tasks with I Help at Home!,
Read about other kids who love cooking in the like Bilal in Bilal Cooks Daal, a young girl who loves Bee-bim Bop! or Belle who learns from her gran how to make a special soup called Freedom Soup.
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