Cooking with Connor - Adventures in the Kitchen with a Toddler

Cooking together has always been a favorite activitygather our ingredients and utensils. And then we
in our family. My mother began to cook with mebegin.Fun and safetyI discuss the fact that we will
before I started school. One of my earliest schoolneed to warm up the oven while we're making our
memories was when I was a first grader: our classfood; explaining that the stove is "very hot" and that he
was invited to be guests of the eighth grade cookingmust never touch the oven; and that he only cooks
class and we were treated to hot cocoa and oatmealwith me, or his Mommy or Daddy. I usually tell him
cookies made by the "big kids." At the end of theabout the times I would cook with Daddy when he
party, we were allowed to help the eighth graderswas a little boy. This usually gets Connor's interest. I
clean up, and I remember volunteering to wash a verymeasure out each of the ingredients, and Connor gets
large floured baking sheet. As the class was ending, Ithe fun and important mixing job.If I'm using an electric
was still at the sink laboring with the industrial-sizedblender or mixer, Connor gets to turn the appliance on
baking sheet that was as big as I was. As a rewardand off (again discussing safety issues and the
for my efforts, I was given a gold star on myimportance of not using these appliances by himself). If
forehead. Even now, many years later, I still remembersomething has to be cooked on the stove-top, Connor
that day as one of the proudest of my life.And maybestands close by watching the activity and depending
it was that day that started me on a life in which myon what's cooking he get a chance to stir the pot
best memories involve cooking for myself, my family,(under very close supervision).By this time, things in the
and my friends. The best of the best memories arekitchen are starting to smell really good, and that gives
the times I cooked with my own children who haveus a chance to discuss what we smell and to build
now grown up and have given me five grandkidsexcitement about the end result.Connor gets the honor
(aged from 20 months to 18 years), with whom I canof greasing the cake or muffin pans, or he can roll out
continue what I started with my children over 40 yearsdough (with some help). Depending on what we're
ago.Cooking gives children a wonderful sense ofcooking, he also gets the opportunity to help pour the
accomplishment and they learn early that hard workbatter into the pans if we're making a cake, cupcakes,
can pay big (sweet) rewards. Cooking allows you toor muffins. If we're making cookies, he can use the
talk to kids on many levels: they learn about their familycookie cutters and later he can sprinkle the colored
histories when you use recipes handed down in thesugar over them.Finally, we are ready to put the dish
family (the names of their great grandparents, theinto the oven or onto the stove, set the timer, and
foods that derive from their family roots in countriesanticipate the outcome. While waiting, Connor always
far away), they learn to follow directions, they learn tohelps with the clean up, and I admit this is his least
count (depending on their ages, this can range fromfavorite thing to do. But this is one of the lessons that
simple to more involved calculations), they learnare learned we must always clean up our own
cooperation, they learn the joy of work that can givemesses. It's not all work. While we're cleaning up, we
pleasure not only to themselves but to others, theyget to look into the oven and watch the progress of
learn to try and to experience different foods andthe dish as it cooks. We discuss how the food will get
cooking methods, they learn lessons of self-sufficiencyto smell better and better, how it browns, and how the
that will serve them all their lives, they learn they mustcake gets bigger as it cooks.When the timer rings, with
clean up after themselves, they learn to followConnor closely watching, I take the food out of the
directions and how to plan ahead (shopping and prepoven and place it on the cooling rack. If the dish calls
time).All the while they're learning all these things,for icing, we use the cooling time to make the icing, and
they're having fun and so are you.Children learn toConnor helps put the icing on the cakes or cookies
enjoy food from the first moments of their lives, and(and into his mouth).At last, the dish is done and we get
they can learn the joy of cooking even as toddlers.to eat it, sharing it of course with Mommy and Daddy,
When you cook with toddlers, it's important that youand anyone else who wants some. Since eating is a
concentrate only on the task at hand, and it's best tosocial activity, Connor basks in the glow of his
limit your cooking class to just one short one at a time.accomplishment and enjoys the compliments and the
I've found it best if the recipes are simple, and have anconversation. In our family, after eating everyone helps
enjoyable anticipated outcome.Getting startedTheseclean up, so once again Connor is in on the action.In
days, I've been cooking a lot with my three-year-oldgeneral, anything that I choose to cook with Connor (or
grandchild, Connor. I like to begin talking with Connorany other young child) has got to be simple and quick,
about what I want to cook with him. I describe howrecognizing that young children have finite attention
much he will like the dish, and when I get his interest, Ispans. The time I spend cooking with Connor (or any
give the recipe a fun name. I can keep his interestof the kids) leaves me happy, tired, full, and contented;
through the whole process if I start by writing theit leaves them feeling the same way, too, and proud of
recipe down and discussing the ingredients and stepsthemselves as well.The following are a few recipes
involved.Then I plan a trip to the store for thethat I have used successfully with Connor and with my
ingredients. Again I involve the child. We look for theyounger grandchildren. I hope that you will try them for
ingredients together, and we watch while the checkeryourselves and add your own while you make
bags our stuff, and after we pay her (Connor learnsmemories for yourself, your children, and your
that everything has a price), we go home tograndchildren (or any kid who happens to be in your
cook.Washing hands is always the way we begin. It'slife).The Recipes"BaNANA" BreadPreparation Time: 20
fun washing up with Connor, who generally resistsminutes Baking Time: 60 minutes Makes 1 LoafYou will
washing up at other times -- as he seriously throwsneed: a large fork and a wooden spoon, 2 bowls, oven
himself into this activity when its for cooking. Next wegloves, loaf pan, cooking rack.