Snack preparation is a big deal in our class. It is a choice of work that the children can choose.
Preparing a snack can help grow your child’s self-esteem as well as help develop and strengthen their hand-eye coordination and the muscles in their hands, forearms, and core. The sense of accomplishment they feel will help to build their self-esteem, sense of responsibility, and overall confidence and belonging. Once children begin to feel such success and empowerment, they also experience overall feelings of positivity and success. This makes for happier children who want to take more risks and become more productive within their communities.
How to Facilitate Fun Food Prep Scenarios
So what can you do on your end to help facilitate fun food prep scenarios for your children? You can begin by eating more fruits and veggies with your children. You can talk about how absolutely scrumptious they are every time you eat them. Did you know that at the start of every academic year, many parents tell us that their children dislike fruits, but guess what happens a few weeks later? Those very same children see their peers snacking on fruit and soon they start munching on them too!
When we introduce a new vegetable or fruit to a child in the classroom, grocery store, or home, we name the item slowly and repeat the name. We notice how it feels (bumpy, smooth, rough, heavy, etc). We smell it. We notice the color and if it is big or small or soft or hard. Then we offer the item to the child. This exploration and verbal exchange can occur throughout the preparation process to the finale of the big taste!
Engaging your child in conversation and using their senses is a great way to encourage their growth and development.
Here are some of our children in action preparing snacks for their classmates.
