MATH Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon. FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new flavors and ingredients. What Your Child Can Learn From Baking NUTRITION Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet. EDUCATION IN THE KITCHEN
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably wracking your brain for the perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store-bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids, baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen.
HELP, DON’T HAMPER, RECOVERY
The word autonomy comes from the Greek ‘autonomous,’ meaning “to have one’s own laws.” On the road to recovery, a patient’s autonomy, or sense of independence, plays an important role. According to a study in SciELO journal, when patients feel autonomous, they’re more likely to act on that feeling and develop their independence. Conversely, when we feel reliant on others, the resulting loss of autonomy can lead to depression and further reliance on others. As the article explains, “When we fall ill, we want and we need the care of others, be it the specialized knowledge that a professional has to share, be it the affection and emotional support that professionals, friends, or relatives can bring. This, in itself, doesn’t reduce a sick person’s autonomy; on the contrary, it may even strengthen it.” But when support turns into enabling, and an injured or sick person becomes dependent on you, their autonomy is lost, and the relationship has turned from helpful to harmful.
find their favorite movie or TV series and watch it with them. How about a painting night so they can exercise their creative mind? As you plan an activity, keep their limitations in mind. A hike, for example, may put too much stress on their injury and make them feel worse about their limitations, so plan accordingly. Remember the importance of autonomy as you help your loved one, and resist the urge to smother with too-frequent check-ins or offers of assistance. Don’t be offended if your offers are rejected; car accident victims sometimes need time to process things out before they can truly accept help from others. One of the easiest ways you can help a loved one after an accident? Send them to Smith, Wallis & Scott, LLP. Compassionate legal counsel always helps, so get in touch with us today at (770) 214-2500.
A loved one needs to feel that you are there to support them if they need help, but they also need to feel that they can function as an individual.
How can you help your loved one during their recovery without inhibiting it?
Distraction might be the best gift to give. If your loved one is a strategy wizard, suggest a game night where they can practice their skills. You might
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