From the Extension: Create lifelong holiday memories with safe fun in the kitchen
COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, FOOD -- FEATURE SPOT, Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Alison James Published 
3:15 pm Tuesday, December 6, 2022

From the Extension: Create lifelong holiday memories with safe fun in the kitchen

FRANKLIN LIVING – November/December 2022

Teaching does not always happen in the classroom; it can take place right in your kitchen. The kitchen can be the site for numerous lessons and skills for children, such as vocabulary and reading, math, science, decision-making, comparisons and social skills. Helping with a holiday meal can give children a sense of responsibility. Cooking can also help children learn about nutritious foods, budgeting and cleaning.

During the holidays, the action is found in the kitchen, and we all know children love to be where the action is.

Even though the smell and the noise of food sizzling and baking can be captivating to children, it can also create a high risk of harm. By using simple safety techniques, however, children can still take part in holiday meal preparation.

WAYS TO KEEP CHILDREN
SAFE AND HAPPY IN THE KITCHEN
DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Remember, no kids in the kitchen until rules are established. Have a talk with them about kitchen safety, handwashing and why only an adult can handle certain items.

Confidence is important. Start with simple skills and gradually build up to larger tasks. When children are confident, they will move forward with other tasks in the kitchen and not back away from them.

Look for tasks children can easily help with – without a lot of extra help from an adult. Even the simplest jobs, like measuring and mixing ingredients, can build a child’s confidence and help create a sense of pride.

Assign tasks of a holiday recipe based on abilities. This will help keep your children enthusiastic about cooking. For example:

  • 5- and 6-year-olds can stir instant pudding, snap green beans, prepare lettuce for a salad, press cookie cutters and pour liquids into batter.
  • 7- and 8-year-olds can rinse vegetables, shuck corn, mix and shake ingredients, beat eggs and measure dry ingredients.
  • 9- and 10-year-olds can knead bread dough, stir hot mixtures, blend batters, broil foods in a toaster oven and cut foods with a table knife.
  • 10-year-olds and older can slice or chop vegetables, boil potatoes, microwave foods, bake foods in the oven and simmer ingredients on the stove.

Cooking has so many benefits. Preparing this year’s holiday meal can help children learn through a broad range of learning styles such as tasting, feeling, smelling, observing, reading and listening. Remember to praise your child and let everyone know what dishes he or she helped with during the food preparation.

This is a great family fun time that allows a parent and child to bond and create life long holiday memories.


Katernia Cole-Coffey is director of the Franklin County Cooperative Extension. To reach the Extension call 256-332-8880.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025