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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

My Budding Chef

Welcome to the November Carnival of Natural Parenting: Kids in the Kitchen
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared how kids get involved in cooking and feeding. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
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at The Culinary Workshop
learning how to measure
I'm no cook and I am definitely happy (and lucky) that we have helpers where I live.  I sent my 2 helpers to various cooking classes and they can now whip up an excellent paella, a complete japanese and korean dinner, thai meals and can follow various recipes by the book.  But what makes me happier is they allow my little budding chef, N to work with them in the kitchen.

N's interest in cooking and baking started over the summer when I enrolled her in baking classes at The Culinary Workshop with her cousin, J.  This started her cooking and baking frenzy and since then she has made several dishes.
From corn muffins to sugar cookies for her school snacks to the Thai dessert - Tub Tim Grob:
making corn muffins
measuring ingredients for the sugar cookies
making tub tim grob
More importantly, she's learned the importance of cleaning up!
helping the cook wash dishes - no automatic dishwashers here!
But nothing beats her favorite past time of cooking at her play kitchen


Or doing her cooking show!
I remember during my childhood that the kitchen was off limits as my mom feared that we would burn or hurt ourselves.  Since N has shown an inclination for cooking/baking (she bakes apple pie for her dad!) I've decided to give her free reign (with adult supervision, of course) to make whatever she wants.  


How about you? How much freedom do you give your kids in the kitchen?
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Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: MamaVisit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon November 8 with all the carnival links.)
  • Baking & letting go — Cooking with kids can be a mess. Nadia at Red White & GREEN Mom is learning to relax, be patient, and have fun with the process.
  • Family feeding in Child of Mine — Lauren at Hobo Mama reviews Ellyn Satter's suggestions for appropriate feeding and points out where her family has problems following through.
  • Children with Knives! (And other Kitchen Tools) — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy teaches her children how to safely use knives.
  • "Mommy, Can I Help?" — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment writes about how she lets her kiddos help out with cooking, despite her {sometimes} lack of patience!
  • Solids the Second Time Around — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes recounts her experiences introducing solids to her second child.
  • The Adventure of Toddler TastebudsThe Accidental Natural Mama shares a few things that helped her daughter develop an adventurous palate.
  • A Tradition of Love — Kelly at Becoming Crunchy looks forward to sharing the kitchen traditions passed on from her mom and has already found several ways to involve baby in the kitchen.
  • The Very Best Classroom — Alicia C. at McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts reveals how her kitchen is more than a place to make food - it's a classroom!
  • Raising Little Chefs — Chef Mike guest posts on Natural Parents Network about how he went from a guy who couldn't cook to a chef who wanted to teach his boys to know how the food we love is made.
  • In the Kitchen with my kids — Isil at Smiling like Sunshine shares a delicious soup recipe that her kids love.
  • Papa, the Pancake Artist — Papa's making an incredible breakfast over at Our Mindful Life.
  • Kids won't eat salad? Try this one! — Tat at Mum in Search is sharing her children's favourite salad recipe.
  • Recipe For a Great Relationship — Cooking with kids is about feeding hearts as well as bellies, writes Hannah at Wild Parenting.
  • The Ritual of Mealtimes — Syenna at Gently Parenting Twins writes about the significance of mealtimes in her family’s daily rhythm.
  • Kid, Meet Food. Food, Kid. — Alburnet at What's Next? panicks about passing on her food "issues" to her offspring.
  • Growing Up in the Kitchen — Cassie at There's a Pickle in My Life shares how her son is growing up in the kitchen.
  • Harvesting Corn and History — From Kenna at School Garden Year: The kids in the school garden harvest their corn and learn how much history grows in their food.
  • My Guiding Principles for Teaching my Child about Food — Tree at Mom Grooves uses these guiding principles to give her daughter a love of good food and an understanding of nutrition as well as to empower her to make the best choices for her body.
  • Kitchen Control — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro writes about her struggles to relinquish control in the kitchen to her children.
  • Food — Emma at Your Fonder Heart lets her seven month old teach her how to feed a baby.
  • Kitchen Fun? — Adrienne at Mommying My Way questions how much fun she can have in a non-functional kitchen, while trying to remain positive about the blessings of cooking for her family.
  • Kitchen Adventures — Erica at ChildOrganics shares fun ways to connect with your kids in the kitchen.
  • Kids in the Kitchen: Finding the Right Tools — Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares some of her favorite child-sized kitchen gadgets and where to find them.
  • The Kitchen Classroom — Laura at Authentic Parenting knows that everything your kids want to learn is at the end of the ladle.
  • Kids in the Kitchen — Luschka from Diary of a First Child talks about the role of the kitchen in family communication and shares fun kitchen activities for the under two.
  • Our Kitchen is an Unschooling Classroom. — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle explores the many ways her kitchen has become a rich environment for learning.
  • Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares lots of resources for using Montessori food preparation activities for young children in the kitchen.
  • My Little Healthy Eater — Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares her research on what is the best first food for babies, and includes a healthy and yummy breakfast recipe.
  • Two Boys and Papa in the Kitchen: Recipe for Disaster?MudpieMama shares all about her fears, joys and discoveries when the boys and handsome hubby took over the kitchen.
  • Food choices, Food treats — Henrietta at Angel Wings and Herb Tea shares her family's relationship with food.
  • learning to eat — Catherine at learner mummy reflects on little M's first adventures with food.

27 comments:

Mom-Friday said...

Wow so impressive!  
I do allow my kids in the kitchen to help, only when I'm the one cooking preparing something. But I'm a kill-joy mom, hahaha...so many restrictions and "rules".  N looks so at ease in the kitchen! Galing! I think next time I will be less controlling na with kids and let them be.

Yen said...

Marion got a play kitchen for her birthday and she loves it. I would really want to get her to do actually cooking but I feel she's too young to be doing so (plus I still gotten over my fear of her hurting herself in the kitchen). I try to get her into spreading jam on bread and cutting up banana for now. Hopefully we can progress to something more fun and interesting soon. :D

Rone Valles said...

Gael loves to cook and bake, I can't wait for him to prepare a whole meal for us.  He has gone to The Culinary Workshop and it is a great start for kids interested in the kitchen.  He and N should having a cooking date one day.

Dionna @ Code Name: Mama said...

N looks like she's going to become a regular chef! Kieran is much more creative with his play food than he is when he cooks with me - he still has a hard time getting his hands dirty. But he is often interested in helping out, and I love sharing the time with him.

Jenny said...

rone! that's were N learned too.. the culinary workshop in ortigas? The teacher there was so patient with her. she was just 3 years and 4 months when she did the baking classes

Jenny said...

yen try to enroll her in a cooking/baking class. there's one for 2-4 years old at cafe ysabel during the summers

Jenny said...

well i never touch the kitchen!! so talo pa nya ako! hahaha! i guess the yaya/cook are more flexible so N is more participative in cooking/baking

Jenny said...

my nephew also doesn't like to get his hands dirty. so when he and N cook together he mixes all the stuff then gets N to handle the dough! ;)

IThoughtIKnewMama said...

Wow - very impressive! I love that N has already taken cooking classes! I would love to take a cooking class with Baby when he is a bit older!

Zoe said...

It's great that you are encouraging your children to do something that they enjoy but that is also such an important skill for life.  

Connie said...

awesome! your little girl has the passion for cooking and baking. i've yet to allow my 4 y.o. to get really busy in the kitchen. she does help me set the table and mix a few ingredients. if circumstances permit, i'll enrol her in a cooking class too!

Jenny said...

i think the cooking class gave her much confidence in being able to work on her own! i guess we were also lucky that the classes she enrolled in were quite small, giving the teacher-chef a chance to really focus on each child. 

Jenny said...

i agree!! and that skill is something I am not very good at! so hopefully she does better than me! ;)

Jenny said...

it did help that we set up a small table in the middle of the kitchen and placed the ingredients/utensils she would be using on that table.  that kept her (and my kitchen appliances) out of harm's way!

hobomama said...

That Culinary Workshop looks amazing! N looks like a pro already. And I'm glad she knows to clean up, too. :)

applesanddumplings said...

Wow, galing ni N! Sana Y will show the same initiative when she's 3.

Stephen said...

love the cooking show! galeng! clap clap clap!

Kristin @ Intrepid Murmurings said...

Oh, love the cooking show!  She is a pro!  Love how she remembers to grab the mitt when taking the hot food out of the oven, and to tak a bow at the end!  So great!  The culinary workshop looks fun too!

Erlaine said...

Hi Jenny! A fellow n@wie here. N looks like a junior master chef :) She'll be a future pastry chef! I also like her kitchen playset. We are looking one for my 3yo daughter as a birthday gift. Where were you able to buy it?

densfan said...

hurray to Naima for learning to clean up! :) good job!

Jenny said...

hi erlaine! the kitchen i got from oneplanetnoah.multiply.com. 

Erlaine said...

thanks! is it customized? 

Yen said...

thanks for the tip! will look it up. :D

Jenny said...

i highly recommend the cooking/baking classes ;)

Jenny said...

no. it is out of box. brand is wonderworld. there are other kitchens locally available - mother garden strawberry kitchen or voila or a local brand - http://oneplanetnoah.multiply.com/photos/album/86/Local_Handmade_Wooden_Toys_for_young_and_old_#photo=77.
judy carries wonderworld voila and the local brand. mother garden, you can search in FB. happy shopping :)

Mooreamalatthicks said...

Wondeful cooking show! I can't wait for my little girl to be that age so that she can take on more than pouring and stirring and truly understand that she is helping make dinner for the family! :) Your daughter is beautiful and adorable in that hat! 

RachelCrz said...

So adorable!  You can tell, N knows what she's talking about. :-)

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