My 5-year-old loves to help out in the kitchen. The problem is that her contributions to mealtime are limited when the menu involves a lot of slicing and dicing. In order to let her have free reign in the kitchen I occasionally create dishes that are incredibly kid-friendly.
The following activities are ideal for a group of pint-sized chefs. If you are looking for a way to keep kids busy on a cold winter day, then consider these ideas for an “In the Kitchen” party for young cooks:
First, get organized so that the kids can do most of the meal preparation. If you have older kids, who know how to read, then put out recipe cards for each child. Adults can handle the oven or stove tasks, but the kids should complete the majority of the preparation.
Homemade pizza is a good option. Place all of the ingredients (such as pepperoni, cheese, mushrooms, olives, etc.) on the table and have the kids do the assembly work.
While the pizza is cooking have kids make Salad on a Stick. Set out bowls of pre-cut carrots, red and green peppers, cucumbers, olives and cherry tomatoes. Then, give each child a skewer. Have the kids choose their favorite veggies and thread them onto the skewer. Give each child an individual dipping bowl of Ranch dressing or other topping of his/her choice.
If the kids prefer fruits to veggies, then have them make Fruit on a Stick. Set out bowls of grapes, pineapple chunks, watermelon balls, strawberries, cantaloupe cubes, etc. and let each child thread his/her favorite fruits onto a skewer.
Make dessert fun and simple by decorating pre-made cookies or cupcakes. You could also have an ice cream sundae bar. Just set out bowls filled with a variety of sprinkles, candy and other toppings, such as caramel, chocolate and whipped cream. Scoop out the ice cream and allow each child to build his or her own frozen masterpiece.
Before the party comes to a close play a game of Taste Testers. To play, simply place a selection of sauces and spices (e.g. ketchup, mustard, sugar, Ranch dressing, chocolate syrup, etc.) in little cups on a table. Blindfold each child and give him a taste of the contents of each cup, one at a time. The kids have to guess the ingredient, and then write it on a piece of paper. Give a prize to the person who provides the most correct answers.
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