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Friday, September 03, 2010
 Ten Great Ideas to Get Kids Cooking & Reading!Yes, I'm crazy! Not only do I have 5 kids, but I actually (brace yourself) have let them cook since they were two. I can hear your shrieks of horror now but February is the month of love so I will share 10 great tips about 2 passions of mine- getting children to read and cook happily and without incident!1- Timeless, but true: If they make it, they will eat it! I can't tell you how many times I've heard "She never touches bananas at home- how did you get her to try them here?" Kids are 9 times (or some statistic like that) more likely to eat something they made all by themselves! 2- Give them each a My Night to Cook: Each month my children are responsible for planning out and cooking (w/ help) a dinner on the same day as their birthday. So, Declan was born April 9th so he gets to cook on July 9th, August 9th etc! With 5 kids of my own, I barely go into the kitchen some weeks! This cooking night not only encourages pre-planning and reading of the recipes, it also encourages writing (the shopping list), quality time w/ mom at the grocery store, and fun cooking lessons as we bake. It also helps my kids to realize that dinners don't just appear and...you better eat it 'cause we took a long time to make it! Of course, our meals wouldn't be complete without the fancy desserts! 3- Create a monthly reading chart: My kids love our famous Ice Cream Reading Chart. For each book they read (or have read TO them) they get to cut out a scoop, color it a favorite flavor, and tape it onto the ever growing ice cream cone! Last year our cone went up the wall and out the playroom door! This way, the whole family is invested in reading! Try making a heart chart for February and change it up each month! 4- Host a Winter Book Swap: My kids love to have "It's Snow Cold" parties over vacation. We keep it simple with outside play, hot cocoa and always ask guests to bring 5 paperback books they enjoyed, but are willing to part with permanently. Each attendee goes home with 5 new books! 5- Make an Eating Map: With 5 kids I can't remember who likes mayo and who prefers mustard, who devours grapes and who turns their nose up at tomatoes! On our family board I have an eating map! Under each child's name we list likes, favorites, and no way foods. I also list classroom food allergies so whomever is packing a lunch can see quickly what's ok and what's not for which child's lunchbox! This typically guarantees the snack and lunch will get eaten unless... they go fickle on me! 6- Car Chats! In our car whether it is a quick trip to the store or a road trip to Grandma's, we turn off the cell phones and turn on the talking! I throw out random questions like "What book are you reading?" or "Do you have a boyfriend?" or "What is your favorite cookie?" The only rule (which applies to the 16 year old as well as the 4 year old) is- Your answer can't be "I don't know!" 7- Find a Series/Author: Children of all ages and pre/reading abilities can find a writer they really enjoy. I personally connect with humorous authors. Help your child find a favorite author and check to see if he/she has written other books. Your local library can help you search. See how many books by that author you can read this winter! 8- The Handy Dandy Butter Knife: I love the butter knife! It is virtually impossible to inflict any sort of injury upon thyself with this knife. So our drawer is stocked with them so my young and old independent children can butter bagels, spread PB and more- all without mom! 9- The Added Touch: Use up all those leftover napkins from birthday parties, dinner get-togethers etc. in the lunch box. Who knows, they might just realize that napkins are better than shirt sleeves! 10- Pizza in a Can: One of my best "in a pinch" creations…open a can of refrigerated biscuits. Dunk the biscuit lightly in flour and allow children to roll them out just a tad. Spread on 3 Tbsp. red sauce, sprinkle on cheese, pop in oven at 350 for 10 minutes, add a side veggie and voile- dinner! These reading/cooking tips were whipped up by Mary Murphy, owner and chief creator of Hooray for Books "Creative Classes Where Kids Look, Cook & devour Good Books!" and the mother of five happy readers! HFB offers classes for 20 mos. - 11 years, vacation camps, birthday parties & more! Hoorayforbooks.com |
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FAMILY FUN
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