Children Create Soul Food

When I say Soul Food, I mean that when children are involved in preparing food (and cleaning up) it nourishes their very being. There are so many ways to allow children of all ages to participate in the kitchen. My 19-month-old can help by giving me needed items, putting cut food into a nearby bowl or pot, loading the dirty silverware in the dishwasher, handing me clean silverware, wiping the floor after I wash it….. My 4-year-old can cut things with a butter knife, pour, mix, crack eggs, whisk, grate, arrange, make a sandwich, decorates baked goods, wash produce, load the dishwasher, wash dishes, unload the silverware, rearrange his kitchen/dining shelf, start the oven with guidance, set the table before meals, wash the table after meals…… And my 10-year-old can do all of that, plus make eggs, make butter, slice and dice with a real cutting knife, peel and core, wash and dry dishes, clean the counter tops, stir food as it is cooking, pull things in and out of the oven, measure, and even look up recipes that he wants to make and enjoy. (Sigh…that was a long sentence). It is more time consuming to involve your children, but well-worth it in the long run. Hey, you never know, you could wake up on Mother’s Day or Father's Day one year and have a gourmet breakfast in bed made by your kids ;) . Either way, if you don’t know how or even why to get started, there are a ton of great resources for you and your children.

Some resources are:

6 Ways to Thrive in The Kitchen With the Kids - http://simplemom.net/6-ways-to-thrive-in-the-kitchen-with-the-kids/
Teaching Your Kids to Cook - http://www.squidoo.com/kids_can_cook
Twelve Reasons to Bake with your Children - http://www.homebaking.org/familyfun/reasons.html
Kids Healthy Recipes Guide - http://kidshealthyrecipesguide.blogspot.com/2009/10/bake-christmas-treats-with-your-kids.html
Tips for Baking with Toddlers - http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/category/baking-with-toddlers

Here are a handful of books:

Baking Bread With Children (Crafts Series) by Warren Lee Cohen
Williams Sonoma Kids Baking by Abigail J. Dodge
Mom and Me Cookbook by Annabel Karmel
You're the Cook! A Guide to Mixing It Up In the Kitchen. For Children 9 and up! (Paperback) by You're the Cook!
Cooking with Children: 15 Lessons for Children, Age 7 and Up, Who Really Want to Learn to Cook by Marion Cunningham
The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan
Salad People and More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up by Mollie Katzen
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up by Mollie Katzen and Ann L. HendersonCooking Around the Calendar with Kids: Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun