Just because your kids are little doesn’t mean they can’t help with daily chores – especially when it comes to mealtimes. For the most part, kids at every age can ‘pull their own weight’ when it comes to mealtimes and helping around the house. Besides learning important skills as they grow, it will also promote family bonding time.
Here’s a guide on how your kids can help – at any age! Age 3-4:
- Set the table with placemats, serviettes, and spoons.
- Pick herbs in the garden (or from a pot on your windowsill) for you to use in a dish.
- Arrange slices of cut fruit and vegetables on a plate.
- Stir things in a pot, or scramble eggs for you. (You’ll just need to supervise, of course)
- Clear the table by putting the placemats back in the cupboard drawer, the spoons that have been used in the sink or dishwasher, and throw away rubbish in the bin.
Age 4-6:
- Rinse fruit and vegetables for you to use in a dish
- Measure and mix ingredients for you (great maths practice)
- Collect plastic cups, plates, and cutlery from the kitchen to put on the table
Age 7-12:
- Peel and rinse fruit and vegetables
- Prepare side dishes, like a salad or a dessert
- Read simple recipes (great reading practice)
Age 12+:
- Chop fruit and veggies with a knife.
- Follow a recipe
- Boil pasta, rice, or an egg
At the end of the day, when you involve your kids in mealtime preparations from an early age, you’re doing them a big favour. It allows them to learn to make healthier choices, and it will also help them to be more self-sufficient when they’re older. They might not thank you now – but trust us, they will later on!
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