When I was young the winter months seemed to drag on. Days were spent feeding hay and breaking ice on the ponds, and you can only play in the snow so long until it’s time to warm up. (Yes, that’s correct I said “breaking ice on the ponds.” It wasn’t until after my brothers and I left the farm that dad decided it was time to buy automatic heated watering systems). Funny how that happens…
Now, there was plenty to do when the weather was nice outside. But, after the weather turned and I finished doing chores, all I wanted was some hot cocoa.
Seeing the snow across the Ozarks reminds me when my mother would pull me into the kitchen and we would have a “craft day.” Together we would make play dough, homemade bubbles and bake all sorts of delicious treats when I was a child. It’s funny how these memories have come to life again now that I have a little one running throughout my kitchen.
“Craft days” are how my mother introduced to me the kitchen. She made the kitchen not only a place where meals were served, but a place of fun for me at an early age. I truly believe this is one reason I enjoy being in the kitchen so much today as a grown woman.
Now, you might be thinking, cooking lesson, not in my kitchen. You might end up with flour scattered on the floor and sticky cabinets, but kids do learn skills in the kitchen like cleaning up.
Here are some fun ways to make crafts in the kitchen this winter with your kids:
• Embrace the mess. Children are messy. Children in the kitchen are even messier. If it makes you feel better, cover the table or counter with newspaper or plastic bags. After that, let it go and enjoy the activity. (This lesson was very hard for me to master at the beginning, but I promise it does get easier.)
• Make maracas: Fill clean screw-top plastic bottles with different quantities of dry foods (such as beans, rice or peanuts) to create a variety of maracas. Have the kids make creative colorful labels to tape or glue on the bottles.
• Fashion jewelry out of pasta and cereal: String cereal O’s and different shapes of pasta tubes on yarn or kitchen twine to make necklaces and bracelets. Use markers to color the pasta. (This was one of my favorites!)
• Paint with pudding (My son’s favorite): Make several different batches of instant pudding, then let children paint on paper with it using large brushes or their fingers. And the best part: it’s ok if they lick their fingers.
• Do some cooking: There are lots of fun recipes on the internet or that kids can help prepare. Try making items such as chili, banana bread, biscuits, decorating cookies and cupcakes or even chicken pot pie.
• Kids usually eat what they make: For some reason it seems that whatever foods that kids help prepare in the kitchen, they are more apt to eat.
• A boost of self esteem: All kids need a little extra self confidence (don’t we all) and cooking in the kitchen will help. Kids will be able to accomplish a task and learn about contributing to the family.
Whatever you do this winter to reduce “cabin fever” I encourage you to take some time out, bring your kids in the kitchen, make a mess and have fun doing it!
