Showing posts with label Housework. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Housework. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2015

11 Super Kids Cookbooks For Cooking With Kids


Cooking with kids is a fun bonding activity for parent and child. Here are some kids cookbooks to help you do just that with recipes made just for children.


Cooking With Kids Ideas

Run out of ideas on what to cook with your child? This lens will highlight cooking books for kids to give you more ideas on what to cook with children. It will include cooking utensils, links to recipes, and give you some tips and articles on why kids should cook.
You can do many cooking activities with kids. The right children's cookbooks will give you plenty of ideas.
Kids love cooking. It is also an excellent time to bond with your child and teach them about team work and working on a project from start to finish. Kids can see and taste the end results of their effort and they will be more inclined to eat them too!



Teach Kids About Health And Nutrition By Starting Them Young With Nutritious Recipes


The Healthy Start Kids' Cookbook: Fun and 
Healthful Recipes That Kids Can Make Themselves

Kids in the Holiday Kitchen: Making, Baking, Giving

Holiday time is a good time for baking projects for kids. With the Christmas approaching you can make gingerbread houses and gingerbread men and other Christmas baking for kids. Here are a few holiday recipes for kids to start you off on this wonderful holiday season.

Kids in the Holiday Kitchen: Making, Baking, Giving

Kids Cookbooks Should Be Colorful With Interesting Illustration Yet Simple - Keep it Simple Yet Compelling and Must Be Attractive
That is my main criteria for looking for a Cookbook for Kids. It is just like looking for any book for kids.

This Betty Crocker Kids Cook! (Betty Crocker Cooking) fulfills most of that criteria of being simple and to the point but with colorful and cute illustration. Thumbs up!




















The Everything Kids' Cookbook - With over 90 recipes

Fans of The Everything Series will find The Everything Kids' Cookbook a useful addition to your recipe books for kids.

Why even an adult who is learning to cook may find it useful! Besides recipes, it also teaches kids the basics about cooking, kitchen safety, and nutrition.




Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes:
A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up
Pretend Cooking or Real Cooking?
Let the kids decide. I am sure they will love the healthy recipes for kids found in Mollie Katzen's Cookbooks for kids. With more than six million books in print, Mollie Katzen is listed by the New York Times as one of the bestselling cookbook authors of all time. Her children's trilogy cookbooks Pretend Soup, Honest Pretzels, and Salad People is referred to as the "gold standard" of children's cookbooks by the New York Times.




Williams-Sonoma Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet Treats




Kids Dessert And Snacks Cookbook

Kids Dessert Cookbooks Is A Good First Cookbook For Kids

Desserts and snacks are easy for kids to cook up. Sometimes it may require baking. At other times it is merely putting together a few ingredients.

This is something really easy for a young child to do. Plus they are more inclined to eat the snack they made themselves.

Kids Cookbooks Should Have Step By Step Colorful Picture Guides

Kids' Cook Book: Fun Step-by-Step Recipes

Kids Vegetarian Cookbook

Vegetarian Cookbooks aren't for vegetarians alone. A vegetarian cookbook can be a very innovative way to get your kids to eat their vegetables.... by cooking them in varied and interesting ways. They'll be surprised vegetables taste so good and be more likely to eat foods that they cook up themselves. Apart from vegetables, there are many wonderful meat substitutes you can find in a vegetarian cookbook


Vegetarian Kids' Cookbook: With 350 step-by-step photographs

Kids Cooking Basics - Kids Cookbooks should include basic knowledge on kitchen safety, menu-planning and basic nutrition planning

Practice Cleanliness

Remember to teach your child about the importance of cleanliness as well as the different types of foods and nutrition.

The Mom and Me Cookbook is suitable for young kids from ages 3 to 12.

This is an excellent First Cooking Book for Children with simple step by step instructions with photos.


Teach Kids about Culture through cooking

Easy Desserts from Around the World


Kids World Cookbook

A Kids World Multicultural Cookbook can teach kids about culture and about the people from various parts of the world

You can teach kids about culture and people from various parts of the world by learning about the foods that they eat and how to cook them

When the cooking is done....

Remember to sit and enjoy the meal that your child has prepared and if it did not turn out too well, praise them for trying and try again some other time.

Another Good Choice Is Kids' Cartoon Character Cookbooks and Recipes from Children's Favorite Cartoons

Sesame Street: B is for Baking


Sesame Street "B" is for Baking

50 Yummy Dishes to Make Together

You can get kids cooking by starting them off with a cookbook or recipes from a favorite cartoon character like Dora and Diego or Spongebob or one of the Disney princesses or characters from Sesame street etc.










Pin It

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Dos and Don'ts When Cooking With Kids

Curious Chef 11-Piece Girl's Chef Kit

The recipe for success or failure when cooking with kids. Check out what to do and what not to do when cooking with children.


What To Do When Cooking With Kids

Recipe for Success. Do........ 
  1. Have all the ingredients ready before hand
  2. Get proper attire and utensils
  3. Get your child's input and participation in choosing the recipe
  4. Inspire and talk about your cooking project
  5. Keep it Simple
  6. Encourage Creativity
  7. Praise your Child's Effort in Trying 
  8. Encourage Teamwork between kids
  9. Remain patient and have your sense of humor intact during cooking. 
  10. Encourage cleanliness. Cleaning up along the way also ensures safety

What Not To Do When Cooking With Kids

Recipe for Failure. Don't..........
  1. Take over impatiently
  2. Yell, shout or sound frustrated over the mess your child has created. Don't spoil your bonding moment. Live with the mess for a while.
  3. Say "No! Don't do it this way" Try to reduce the Nos and Don'ts unless it is for safety reasons
  4. Cook something complicated that will take hours to prepare and cook
  5. Cook when you are not fully prepared or help half heartedly. Choose a time when you are free with no distractions

Pin It

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

10 Reasons Why Kids Should Cook

As a mother, do you encourage your kids to cook with you or do you prefer to keep them out of the kitchen because it creates more mess and you are worried about their safety. While safety is a real concern, if you take the proper safety precautions, there is no reason why your kids should not be bonding with you in the kitchen while you and they cook together. 


Here are 10 Reasons Why Kids Should Cook.


1. Love - Kids love to cook! What better reason could there be? Doing something that your child loves together with them makes them feel even more loved.

2. Bonding through cooking - This gives you a chance to spend quality time with your child as you work together.

3. Team Work while cooking - If you have two or more children. Cooking with all the kids gives them an opportunity to work together as a team.

4. Kids learn about Planning and Project Management in order to cook - Kids learn how to manage a cooking project and get to see the end result of working on something. This is the perfect way to teach kids to manage projects.

5. Kids can discover the importance of Time Management through cooking - Kids will learn the importance of doing something according to a set given time through cooking.

6. Kids will Understand Nutrition when they cook - Teach kids about nutrition by cooking up something nutritious. Kids will be more likely to eat something they helped to cook.

7. Kids can get Creative during a cooking session - Cooking can be very creative, rather like crafting. Cooking is a form of art. When you bake, you can make silly shaped cookies and decorated them anyhow you like.

8. Kids will learn Maths while cooking - Kids learn about Maths and Counting when measuring the ingredients in a recipe. You can teach counting for example counting the number of eggs and measuring the volume of milk or weight of the flour.

9. Kids can learn Science through Cooking - Learning about the different tastes of condiments and the different types of ingredients in a recipe is Science!

10. Kids discover Self Esteem when they complete a cooking project - The delight and joy of seeing a project through from start to completion is something that kids can experience when they cook. Plus they can get to taste their completed 'project' too.

Remember to teach as you cook

Cooking with kids is an excellent time to teach kids about Maths, Science and Living Skills too!


Some Kids Prefer To Bake Rather Than Cooking Something Over The Stove. Baking Can Be A Fun First Cooking Activity



Kids Can Bake!: For Kids and Adults Who Love to Bake Together

Pin It

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

10 Tips For Cooking With Kids

You Should Choose Kids Cookbooks 

That Have Themes And Are Fun And Funny For Kids

Cooking with kids is great for bonding and is very educational for the kids. Here are 10 Tips For Cooking With Kids to make cooking fun and memorable, not stressful. 

Keep In Safe and Make it Fun!

  1. Safety First - Keep it safe. Make sure all the utensils kids are using are safe and not sharp and teach kids to keep away from hot surfaces.
  2. Cleanliness - Make sure that everyone washes their hands before and after cooking or preparing foods.
  3. Simplicity - Keep your projects simple so that kids can complete it on their own or with minimum help from you. Don't end up doing the cooking yourself! This will kill self esteem rather than promote self esteem which is one of the objectives we would really like to achieve when cooking with kids.
  4. Patience - Be prepared for some mess. You can teach kids to work as neatly as they can by providing them with large sized bowls, and proper attire but do be prepared for mess and don't yell when floor gets all over the floor and kids start to pour water from container to container when washing vegetables. There is going to be some of that when cooking with kids.
  5. Humor - Along with patience, you will need lots of humor when cooking with kids. Make funny shape cookies, make funny faces with your vegetables. This will encourage creativity too!
  6. Involvement - You can go through the recipes or children's cookbooks together and decide what to cook then go shopping for the ingredients. All these are part of the fun of planning and bonding.
  7. Encourage - Provide lots of encouragement along the way but try to refrain from taking over!
  8. Inspire - Look at cookbooks together, choose recipes, watch cooking programs and check out kids cooking websites and magazines on cooking together.
  9. Clean up - Teach kids to clean up as this is part of the cooking process. Be prepared to clean up all the time throughout the cooking process too. Wipe up slippery floors etc to keep things safe.
  10. Success - Remember to aim for success and praise kids for their effort even if the cookies don't look like cookies...
    Remember to provide them with the proper Kids Cooking Utensils. Not only will this make things more fun they are safer too. 

Pin It

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

10 Simple Ways To Organize Your Child's Playroom




If you wish to remove clutter in your child's playroom, then you are on the right page. Here are 10 simple yet creative ways to organize your child's playroom and clear your head from all that mess.

1. It's A Toy, No It's A Storage Solution



Where To Buy One Like This


Quick Tip
"A toy can also double up a storage space. If you have little space, remember this when getting big items for the room. Find one that allows you to keep things as well."
Storage Solutions For Your Child's Playroom Should Be Able To Double Up As Toys



If you have not enough room for toys and storage, one way to go about this problem is to have a toy that is both a plaything as well as a storage solution.
I like this lemonade stand toy which can double up as storage. Children love to role play and this will give your child an opportunity to role play at being a shopkeeper.
This one is excellent for kids who love to play with toy food. I wish I had one of these when my kids were younger. We used our playhouse tent as a shop. My kids loved to play pretend shopkeeper and they had a lot of toy food. This would have been just right.

2. A Place To Organize Your Child's Books Is A Must!


Where To Buy One Like This


Quick Tip
"All children must be taught to love books from young. The best way is to encourage reading by having a reading corner with a book rack for favorite books"
You Can Organize Your Child's Books By Putting Them On Bookshelves Or In Book Racks



I know this is a hub about organizing playrooms but I would like to mention that kids should be taught how to love reading from a young age. I hate how the many electronic devices are taking our children away from books at a younger age.
One way of encouraging your child to read is to set up a reading corner. If you have a bookshelf, that is great, however I also like a book rack. A book rack makes it easy for your child to get to his or her favorite books.
I like how colorful this book rack is. It can fit into most themes or brighten up a dull room but best of all, it can keep books, wonderful books that all children must be taught to love.

3. A Quite Place To Sit And Play Can Also Be A Storage Solution
Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"A specialized chair for arts and crafts is just right for a child who enjoys drawing and crafting"
Art Materials Can Be Organized With A Specialized Table And Chair For Little Artists



Kids who love to draw should ideally be provided with a place to do just that. A table and chair that has many storage compartments will help you to organize all the art and craft materials, the glitter pens, pains, colored pencils, crayons, glues and more. This makes it so much easier than looking for them if you stash these materials in a cupboard somewhere.
This table is great for a quiet rainy day at home.
However, do remember my table above where I mentioned that your storage solution should be able to grow with your child.If you think that your child will quickly outgrow this one, then perhaps you should think twice before buying something like that. If you have several children, then it is okay because it can be passed along to siblings or if you have spare cash, then why not?

4. Storage Solution For Kids Who Love Legos


Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"Just like any other part of your house, you must also have a place for everything and have everything in its place for your child's playroom."
How To Organize Legos And Other Toys With Small Parts


If you have a child who loves Legos and play with them often, then it is a good idea to get a specialized box just for storing Legos. This idea can be used for any other toy with small parts too.
A storage box with many compartments is excellent for this purpose. I like the idea of putting away toys in categories. Legos go in the Lego box, food toys go in the food box, arts and crafts in the arts and crafts tray. Organizing toys like this makes it so much easier to find the toys.
Don't make the mistake of getting a few plastic containers and then throwing everything inside. That, is not organizing. Hiding toys away is different from organizing toys.
5. Store Your Child's Toys In Storage Benches Or Chairs


Where To Buy One Like This


Quick Tip
"A toy bench storage is good if you have the space, if not then opt for box chairs or chests."
A Chair That Doubles Up As A Toy Chest Is A Very Clever Organizing Idea

Those people who invented benches that one can sit on but with drawers underneath are brilliant. They are a smart and clever way to clear your child's playroom quickly to get the clean uncluttered look. So too are the toy boxes that double up as seats. I love them.
These chair or benches toy chests are clever because your child can sit on them. Make sure they are made of sturdy material and won't topple over. If you are getting wooden toy chests that double up as chairs, make sure that the lid won't hurt little fingers when opening or shutting the chest.

6. Organize The Wall Space In Your Child's Playroom


Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"Don't Forget The Walls When Organizing. Walls can be used for shelves and magnetic boards to organize artwork"
Don't Forget The Wall Space When Organizing Your Child's Playroom

One way to organize your child's playroom is to think about the walls as well. I like using chalkboards or magnetic whiteboards to temporary put up my child's current favorite painting or art project. They are also great for sticking reminders to myself or to them using magnetic buttons. It is one of the best ways to organize your time and the room.
Another way is to frame up your child's drawings and display them. This adds story and interest to the room without burning your budget. I also like peel and stick stickers like this peel and stick chalkboard because they are versatile. You can use it to write reward stars for your child for good behavior or for recording important events.
7. Get See Through Storage Bins So You Know What's Inside
Where To Buy One Like This


Quick Tip
"I like the fact that boxes with lid keeps the toys dust free and reduces the time I have to spend wiping toys."
Find A Place For Your See Through Storage Bins

If you do not have the time to sort your child's stuff into categories (although I highly recommend that you should do so as a little time spent doing that can save you hours of time searching for toys.) Anyway, I digressed. If you don't have time and just want to throw everything into boxes or if your child is keeping them (children can be taught to sort as they keep too). Anyway if you just want to throw them in because you are always in a rush (as most parents are), then see through storage boxes are for you.
You can easily see what's inside the boxes. You can stack the boxes up or find one that comes with a frame that fits your boxes. After that it is just carry and play whichever box your child happens to fancy at the time.

Here Is Another Storage Bin Unit With Frames


Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"Colorful Storage Bins Can Be Used To Color Code Toys For Siblings Or To Sort Into Different Categories"
This Option Is Useful If You Want Your Child To Be Able To Get To Their Toys Easily Themselves



If you don't mind wiping toys, then you can consider the open storage bins. I like how this one is colorful and easily accessible to kids.
If you have several kids, you can color code the storage bins. Blue for big brother, yellow for younger sister and green for the youngest boy. Something like that. Or you can color code the toys. Blue for Legos, Green for food toys, Blue for others or Big boxes for big items, small boxes for small items.

8. Pull Along Storage Are Very Versatile





Where To Buy One Like This
Quick Tip
"Think Versatility And Flexibility When Looking For Storage Solutions"
Flexible And Versatile Storage Should Be Considered


If you like to move your children's toys around perhaps to another part of the house, then versatile storage is for you, one with wheels. It also allows your child to pull his toys along and you won't have to lift heavy toy boxes. After playing, just put everything back into the box and pull it back to its original position.
I really like the flexibility the pull and store container gives. It allows you to "move" you children's "playroom" and playthings to whenever you are at the moment. They will also enjoy pulling their toys along.

9. Tables Are Not Tables But Storage Organizers




Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"Remember that little children grow very quickly. So unless you have several children, or you don't mind spending, I would choose other storage solutions (there are plenty on this page) rather than kid sized furniture."
Get Furniture That Allows You To Store Your Child's Things

In a child's playroom, you must think multifunctional. A chair is a toy box, A table is a container and organizer. A toy is a storing solution. This not only helps you to save space but it also helps you reduce clutter in your kid's rooms.
With that in mind, a table that has storage containers and organizers definitely scores with me as one of the best ways to organize your child's playroom.


10. Storage Does Not Have To Be Ugly Containers


Where To Buy One Like This

Quick Tip
"Make organizing your child's room fun and find creative ways to brighten up and make the room look better not worse, like a store room."

Storage Can Be Decorative In Nature

Instead of having ugly plastic containers in one corner of the room, you can use storage as the focal point of a room like this dollhouse shaped toys and book shelf. It would look wonderful in a girl's room.
For boys, you can consider themes like sports, space, dinosaurs etc when looking around for toys chests etc.
Decorative storage units make a room more cheery and welcoming. Use that idea to your best advantage.
Good luck in your organizing efforts! I hope you enjoyed this post.

Pin It
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...