MAYBookREV2

uniform may aid your little chef in remembering that he is “on duty.” This will go a long way towards reducing kitchen shenanigans and will keep his attention on the task at hand. Simple Entry-level Jobs: Washing up vegetables, peeling oranges, snapping the heads off green beans, etc., are all jobs suitable for young fingers. Other tasks which may be attempted with minimal assistance from you are: stirring cake batter, carefully grating carrots or peeling vegetables, measuring ingredients, kneading pizza dough, spreading nut butters and building sandwiches, mashing potatoes (if cool enough), scooping out avocados, serving portions, cake decorating, etc. If your child is either a competent reader, or becoming one, you can put him “in charge” of the

recipe. Giving children a specific responsibility makes them feel trusted and a part of the team. Giving your child choices, even simple ones, such as, which dinner vegetable to cook or what color the frosting should be, helps involve them more in the entire process and keeps the lines of communication open. And let us not leave out clean up. Tidying up after baking those chocolate chip cookies can be a wonderful way to instill a sense of completeness and ownership. Allow Jonny to sweep the floor or Lucy to dry a few stirring spoons. Let them know that the cleanup process is part and parcel of the whole activity. Grown-up Stuff: For the tasks which require “adults only,” simply explain to your little

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