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Early Years (2-6)

Now you're cookin'! The kitchen is a great place to bond with your child – plus, holiday crafts for kids and curing the "gimmes." By Jena VuylstekePublished: December, 2008

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Whether your child is young enough to be content licking batter from a spoon or old enough to measure ingredients, baking is not only a great way to bond with your child, it’s also a way to develop their math and verbal skills, improve their confidence, create memorable family traditions and encourage their creativity.     Chef and instructor at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Orange County, Diane Weber says, “Baking a dessert can be very rewarding for a child. It’s the grand finale of the meal, and it’s hard for them to go wrong with you right by their side.”     Keeping your child engaged and excited, however, is essential. Make her feel important by getting matching aprons or a special paper chef’s hat for her to wear. Keep an eye on her body language, and if it looks like she is starting to lose interest, let her try something else. For some children, just playing with the tools or a few ingredients in their own bowl is enough.     Another helpful tip is to consider making the dough for your treats ahead of time. This way, you can decorate without any additional mess or risk of things not turning out as planned.             Test you child’s number skills along the way by asking her to count the number of chocolate chips in each cookie, or let her express her creativity by making a funny face out of frosting and sprinkles.     “Some kids are satisfied just getting their hands sticky and playing with the dough,” says Melissa Simpson, professor of Culinary Arts at Orange Coast College. “The initial experience, however, will help them blossom and want to learn more as they get older.”     Jennifer King, culinary coordinator for the specialty retail chain, Sur La Table in Newport Beach, recommends enrolling in one of their hands-on holiday cooking classes for kids.     “A lot of children are hesitant to try new things,” King says, “but when they get to see exactly how they are made, they’re more likely to participate.”     By taking a class or teaching at home, giving your child the opportunity to learn is something she will never forget. Who knows, you may even have the next future chef on your hands. n Curbing the “gimmes” If it seems like every 30 seconds another toy commercial has your child begging you to buy it, you’re not alone. Ads for the year’s top toys invariably infect children with chronic cases of the “gimmes” every holiday season, which often compels parents to open their wallets and break their holiday budgets.     The “gimmes” are normally associated with children ages 3 to 6, according to child psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at Chapman University Dr. David Pincus, but no matter what age, surviving a season of “I wants” is dependent on a parent’s ability to be firm.     “Telling your child ‘no’ doesn’t make you mean,” Pincus, a father himself, says. “If you combine structure and support, you can create a clear set of firm expectations and boundaries that your child will respect.”     First, Pincus recommends getting together with your spouse and agreeing on a set of terms loose enough so that you won’t feel guilty if you give in here and there. For instance, most children with the “gimmes” are too young to understand money, but if parents are able to agree on a set number of presents, the child can learn to prioritize and differentiate between which toy he or she wants more.     Next, parents should communicate these boundaries in as simple of terms as possible. Studies show that the average child can hold up to seven words in their short-term memory. By picking a short phrase, like “only one big, two medium, three small,” and repeating it whenever they ask for more, the child is forced to accept that as the only answer.     “We never want to take away from our kids,” Pincus says, “but the older the child gets, the more they should understand why they ask for things. Probe them to find out what it is that makes them want more and the differences between a want and a need.”     When it comes to the holidays, remind your child that this time of year is about more than just how many presents you unwrap. Be a good role model and teach her about gift alternatives, like baking cookies for a neighbor or making ornaments for the tree.     The “gimmes” will inevitably come and go, but if you stick to your plan, before long your child will begin to see that giving is just as important, and can be just fun, as receiving. Holiday crafts for kids > Create your own ornaments. Use a set of glass balls, ‘puffy paint’ and glitter. > Design holiday cards. Let your toddler send out their own holiday cards this year. > Build a gingerbread house from scratch, or with a preassembled kit. > Make Rudolph Reindeer candy canes with pipe cleaners, ribbon and pom-poms. > Paint holiday plates and figurines at your local pottery studio. > Save money on wrapping paper by letting your kids design their own with plain butcher paper. > Make a clay pot reindeer family by decorating each pot with construction paper antlers, googly eyes and pom-pom noses. Fill it with candy. It makes a great present! Jena Vuylsteke is an intern for OC Family magazine.

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