Kids in the Kitchen?

I hope I’m not scaring you away with yet another chart! By now you’re probably convinced I’m running around the house with a marker in one hand and a box of gold stars in the other, just waiting for the opportunity to press a five-pointed sticker neatly into a printed box.

HA!

Let me assure you that is not the case! While I do use these things at home with our kids, I view them as a helpful sideshow–not as something that runs the show. For us they’re a fun diversion, a motivator, and something to keep us moving forward in the direction we’re seeking to move. If over time they morph into a demanding task-master or something that makes us feel guilty, they’ll be trotting the quick trail to the recycle bin.

SO! With that said, here’s your “sideshow” for the day: a meal planner that involves the kids. Click to download this FREEBIE!

I’ve used a meal planner nearly identical to this for years [something I made back in the day], but have never had one that allowed space for writing in the name of my “sous chef,” or, child helper.

As our kids have gotten older and can be trusted with more responsibility, we have involved them more and more with the preparation and cooking of our meals. Now when I sit to plan out our menu for the week* I stop to consider how we might assign appropriate tasks for our children to help with. This chart shows which day they will be expected to strap on their apron and join me in the kitchen, grinning with eager anticipation, no doubt.

Below are a few ideas for jobs that kids can do. Please stop to use your best judgement as to the safety of each task and how it relates to the responsibility and skill-levels of your children. Remember to supervise!

• washing vegetables and fruit
• ending beans
• scrubbing potatoes
• peeling potatoes
• mixing marinades
• measuring components to recipes
• operating the blender or hand mixer
• adding salt and pepper to proteins [careful here!]
• assembling things that go on bread, buns, or tortillas [tuna melts, hamburgers, hot dogs, wraps, tacos, burritos, etc.]
• operating the microwave
• chopping salad fixings

Have fun involving your kids [and husband!] in meal prep this week! Not only does it lighten your load, but the easy banter provides opportunities for you to hear about their day, learn of their struggles, and check in with friendship issues.

*PS: Hey Mom, if you’ve not gotten in the habit of planning your meals each week, let me encourage you to give it a try! Not only does it help your stress level around 4 pm when you’re standing, bewildered, in front of your empty pantry [not me, right?! wink...], but it makes shopping a breeze! And by focussing just on what you’ll need for these meals, you’ll spend less than you would tossing unneeded items in your cart.

Give it a whirl!

How do you involve your kids in the kitchen? Share your successes by leaving a comment!