Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Age Appropriate Kitchen Jobs for Kids


A few of my favorite ways to interact with kids is in the kitchen, and I realized that what I let them do has really evolved as they grow up. All too often I hear that kids are allowed to do all sorts of things in preschool but at home we still baby them, so I make a conserted effort to find just the right jobs for them at home.

As soon as they can sit up - 18 months:

Mash bananas for Banana Bread
Mix or stir (with a huge mess)
Taste-test

1.5 - 3:

Scoop
Stir
Place cookies on a cookie sheet
Pour on sprinkles (use this method where a tupperware catches the extras!)
Kneed bread dough (see my challah recipe here)
Cut strawberries with an egg slicer (for strawberry shortcakes)
Use a juicer to squeeze lemons for lemonade or oranges
Assemble their own grilled cheese sandwich toppings


3-4:

Measure flour or sugar, leveling off the top
Count ingredients
Cut with a blunt edged knife
Peel Bananas
Turn the mixer or blender on or off
Spread frosting on a cake (see our construction machine birthday cake here)
Gather needed ingredients from the pantry
Shake a sealed Ziploc bag with meat and marinade in it


5-6:

Cut with a sharp knife with close supervision
Measure out all ingredients
Divide ingredients equally (ie. half in one bowl, half in the other)
Possibly read you the recipe
Gather all needed ingredients
Crack eggs
Separate eggs




Jessica


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6 comments:

Unknown said...

This is great! I needed the reminder to let my kids do more. I get overwhelmed sometimes and just ban them, not really the best way to develop healthy habits.

Margot said...

I've been trying to include Ella, 1.5, but she mostly just wants to stick her hands in everything and taste it.

Unknown said...

I love this! Pinned!

Karah @ thespacebetweenblog said...

Great tips!!! Pinning. :)

Linda @ it all started with paint said...

Sadly, your 5-6 year olds can outperform my teen and tween in the kitchen! Can't seem to stop babying them ...

sigh.

:) Linda

Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication said...

These are such great tips! I'm sure your kids love helping you in the kitchen too!

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