Kitchen Memories For Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this Sunday and we couldn’t be more excited. Some of our best memories with our mothers take place in the kitchen. Whether it was baking together, after-school gossip, or learning the secret family recipe, we cherish those moments we spent in the kitchen with our moms.
Now that you’re older, you may be thinking about sharing some of these traditions with your own family. Not only is cooking together a great way to bond with your children or grandchildren, but it helps them learn healthy eating habits, as well as kitchen safety, cleanliness, patience and teamwork. You, too, will learn to have a little patience as you teach them proper food preparation techniques. But with a little teamwork and a lot of fun, they’ll learn their way around the kitchen and will love the time they spend with you.
Here’s a breakdown of age-appropriate tasks for kids from mom.me:
Age 3 to 4
- Put them in front of the sink with a big bowl filled with water, a vegetable brush and a colander. Let them scrub fruit and vegetables.
- Tear lettuce for a salad.
- Pull herbs off of stalks (like rosemary, thyme, cilantro).Mother
- Place already-measured dry ingredients and liquids into a bowl.
- Knead dough (or a piece of the dough).
- Cut cookies with a cookie cutter.
Age 4 to 5
- Cut soft fresh herbs, like parsley, with dull scissors.
- Fill celery stalks or top crackers with soft spreads.
- Grease pans.
- Peel tangerines and oranges (you start it for them first).
Age 5 to 6
- Cut orange sections, bananas and other soft fruit with a plastic knife.
- Set the table (except for glassware).
- Measure ingredients with a cup or spoon.
- Crack and peel hard-boiled eggs.
Age 7 to 8
- Beat eggs with a manual (not electric!) egg beater
- Organize ingredients for a recipe.
- Roll out dough.
Age 8 to 9
- Peel carrots and potatoes.
- Make simple recipes, like a vinaigrette.
- Help plan the meal.
- Make a salad.
Age 10 to 12
- Use a microwave oven.
- Use a blender, electric hand mixer or other small appliance.
- Chop fruits and vegetables with supervision.
- Open cans.
- Use an oven with supervision.
- Shred cheese.
If you’ve tried cooking with kids, you understand how much longer it can take to cook and clean with little ones in the kitchen. They ask a lot of questions, try tasting everything, touch every surface with their sticky fingers, and turn pots and pans into instruments. Having the right kitchen setup can make all the difference. We can help transform your kitchen to accommodate your growing family and be a place where you’ll make memories to last a lifetime. Check out our inspiration gallery for ideas and contact us to start planning your family-friendly kitchen!