A favorite school activity in my house for preschool through elementary school is baking cookies. However, this article focuses on how it can benefit your preschooler. Baking and cooking are a wonderful way to demonstrate several lessons to your child:
*following directions
*science
*math, more specifically fractions
*home economics
*reading skills for younger children
*kitchen safety
*importance of washing hands and cleanliness
*organization
The first step before thinking about touching anything kitchen related is washing your hands. This is the time to teach your child about germs. Explain how germs like to hide on your hands so it is vital to scrub your hands and rinse thoroughly.
The second step is getting all of the supplies and ingredients ready. This is a very important step when working with children. Be sure to allow your child to have a hand in getting out what she is able. If you have an early reader, point out the words on your recipe. You may also have your child point to letters that related to your activity. With this lesson, I focused on “C” for Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Have your little baker count eggs, measure chocolate chips, and help determine how much of an ingredient is required for the recipe for instance: two sticks of butter make one cup which is the required amount for the recipe below. Briefly explain in simple terms how the 1 Cup scoop represents a whole and the other scoops are part of that whole. Teach a simple lesson of 2 halves equaling one whole by scooping two halves into the one cup scooper to fill it. Continue to have your child measure the ingredients on her own or with your help.
The recipe below calls for dissolving 1 tsp baking soda in 2 tsp.of hot water. This called for preschool sized science lesson about water and making solutions.
Mix all the ingredients as per the recipe to teach the importance of following directions. Then allow your child to add the chocolate chips and stir!
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (copied from allrecipes.com)
Ingredients:
1 Cup butter, softened
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Cup white sugar
2 tsp. hot water
1 Cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Cups all purpose flour
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour and chocolate chips. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes in preheated oven or until edges are nicely browned.
I have to say this recipe is awesome. The cookies had that crunch on the outside but were soft and gooey on the inside. What is better than a delicious school day? Keep in mind these suggestions are for a preschooler. This activity is also fun for older children, just be sure to give more responsibility in the kitchen and expand lessons on time, fractions, and science.
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