Supporting our budding chefs
There are so many benefits of cooking with your child. Improving hand eye coordination, bilateral integration (using both hands together), problem solving, self esteem building to name but a few. But we appreciate for some the kitchen poses many challenges and often worries around safety for parents. Children with coordination challenges find manipulating tools difficult and as a result will avoid using them, or be discouraged to use them by adults.
Here at Now, Next and Then we feel strongly that every child has potential for success. By adapting the environment, implementing strategies or even using equipment can make cooking an achievable goal for any child. Here are just a few examples:
Be organised!! Before starting ensure you have all the ingredients out and have a clear and clutter free worktop. Limiting the amount of visual distractions will support attention and planning skills and can make a real difference!
If following a recipe from a book consider writing or typing it out in bigger font, with simple language. Ask the child to read each instruction out loud to ensure they have processed the information and know what to do. You may also want to break down the recipe into smaller chunks. For example, if the recipe says “mix in all the dry ingredients” add in extra steps, i.e. “mix in flour” then another step for “mix in sugar” etc.
When chopping/grating/mixing, encourage your child to sit down at the table with their feet firmly on the floor. You may have to place a box under their feet. Having their feet flat will improve their ability to stabilise their body, improving their skill when carrying out more intricate fine motor tasks.
Think equipment! Chunkier handles will be easier to hold. Also consider adapted utensils such as a rocker knife.
When mixing place a non-slip mat under the bowl. Often children find using both hands together challenging, such as holding on to the bowl with one hand and mixing with the other. Placing the non-slip mat under the bowl will support the bowl in place, reducing the amount of work the supporting hand has to do.
Happy cooking!
Lou Race
Children’s Occupational Therapist