Many skills, which are used throughout life, are developed before your child enters school. Listening, direction following, vocabulary, time concepts, and turn taking are some of these skills. Each of the recipes we’ll use contain some sample questions that can be incorporated into your cooking and baking activity to engage and develop these skills.
Working together in the kitchen is a great time to work on listening skills and vocabulary development. When you talk as you work together, your child picks up information from watching and listening. This greatly enhances the learning process and develops good listening skills that your child will carry throughout life. Since young children model their voice and speech after what they hear, being a good role model is important.
The recipes are intended as examples of the types of recipes you can use. These are recipes I have used for many years. Feel free to modify these recipes to your taste or change recipes to suit your needs. Ideally you will take the ideas and activities we present here and use them when preparing your own (or your child’s) favorite recipes.
VEGGIE DIPPITY DOO
Ingredients
2 cups fresh vegetables (broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, baby carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes)
½ cup plain yogurt
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ envelope dry/powdered salad dressing mix
Directions
Wash, peel and chop vegetables into bite-size pieces.
Have your child name which vegetables you are using. As you process each vegetable, have them describe each by color, shape, texture, and taste.
Arrange the processed vegetables on a platter.
Have your child arrange them by color, by size, by texture, etc.
Combine yogurt, mayonnaise, sour cream, and salad dressing together.
Have them tell how yogurt, mayonnaise and sour cream are the same or how they are different.
Mix well.
Reinforce using two hands together, one hand stirring and one hand holding the bowl.
Cover and refrigerate.
The activities suggested here are designed to reinforce in children some very basic skills. This is not intended as a substitute for therapy by licensed therapists. If you have concerns about your child’s physical or language development, consult your pediatrician or a licensed therapist in your area.
Supervise your child when using sharp knives and other potentially dangerous utensils.
© 2012 The Therapist’s Cookbook by Jacqueline Messineo-Cowles