Could your child be a future celebrity chef? Could your baby be a world-class baker in waiting? Help transform your toddlers or school-age kids into tiny tastemakers by following these three simple tips. Use your space as a skill zone. It takes more than just a love of food to make delicious meals and treats, as cooking and baking put all five senses to the test. Helping in the kitchen enables small children to heighten their awareness of smells, tastes, sounds, and textures while learning new words. Having them measure ingredients and pour them into bowls is an easy way to refine their motor skills, and your guidance behind the counter will encourage them to follow directions. If your kitchen companion is a baby, you can still involve them by describing the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them and letting them touch some of the food — all great tools to assist in developing their connection to the world. Kid-proof your meal prep. Before taking your child on a culinary journey, check that their countertop travels won’t endanger them. It’s obviously a big no-no to rest a sharp knife on KITCHEN ADVENTURES: KID EDITION Whisking Up Family Fun
a cutting board that small hands can reach, but little things like toothpicks can also pose a risk. If your small assistant is old enough to cut up ingredients, a plastic utensil will be less painful than steel if the blade misses its mark. Keep family flavors flowing. Want to give your mom or dad a holiday surprise they’ll never forget? Present them with a meal based on one of their famous recipes that their grandkid(s) helped prepare! Holiday gatherings are great for sharing the details and delicacies that shaped your family’s history — and a wonderful opportunity to pass down those special traditions to the next generation. With the holidays upon us, now is a perfect time to introduce little ones to the joys of baking and cooking by turning your kitchen into a safe space for learning and bonding.
What to Donate for Maximum Impact BEYOND THE BASICS
Plenty of food drives are going on right now, and if you want to make a difference this holiday season, it’s a good idea to figure out what most people in need could use. Many of the most commonly donated items aren’t as helpful as you might think. Take boxed macaroni and cheese as an example. This is one of the most commonly donated items, but for these individuals to make it, they need milk and butter, two items rarely seen at a food pantry. They would also need a stovetop or some other way to boil water, which not everyone has. Another commonly donated item that many people in need can’t use is canned goods. You might assume that many people who use food pantries already own a can opener, but homeless people use these facilities, too, and they usually don’t have one. If you donate canned goods, make sure they have a pop top.
Here are a few items you should donate to help make someone’s day. Boxed milk is a treasure because kids can use it for cereal, which is regularly donated. Most people don’t think about donating spices, salt, and pepper, but these can be a real gift to those in need. For some, tea bags or ground coffee can seem like a little luxury. Items like sugar, flour, cake mix, and frosting make it possible to make a child’s birthday cake. They get a lot of peanut butter and jelly but rarely receive bread. Remember that EBT cards don’t pay for dish soap, feminine hygiene products, paper products, and diapers, so providing these items can make someone’s life much easier. Donating goods is a wonderful idea, especially during this time of year. Putting extra thought into what you give can make someone’s holiday season feel magical.
Many people refer to the holiday season as the giving season, as we try to give back to our respective communities before the end of the year. There are many ways to do this, from volunteering to donating goods. If you’ve ever volunteered at a food bank or pantry, you know how much donations can impact someone’s life.
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator