Christmas Baking with Children

Encourage family traditions by making delicious Christmas cookies for giving. Each Christmas season, most of us go through the same holiday rush, only to regret that once again, we didn’t have a very peaceful time; often in spite of all our good intentions to try and slow down a bit.

For our family, baking is a way to slow down and spend some quality time together. Giving cookies as gifts provides the satisfaction of offering friends and family something home-made and it helps me spend less time shopping at those very busy malls. And most importantly, I will have those few hours of baking with my child as memories.

Some handy baking hints:
 If baking many different types of cookies, begin mixing and baking with the recipes that call for the lowest oven temperature.
 Place a double-thickness of aluminum foil on your countertop as a substitute for a cooling rack if you run out of space.
 Allow your cookies to cool to room temperature before storing them.
 Line your containers with waxed paper and place your cookies in containers one layer at a time, placing waxed paper between each layer.
 If the cookies won’t be eaten or shipped for several days, wrap the entire container in plastic wrap. You can then freeze them for up to 2 weeks.
 You can freeze cookies for a longer period of time if you wrap the cookies in stacks of 4-6 cookies before placing them in your containers.
 Defrost frozen cookies at room temperature until completely thawed.

Children's Baking Birthday Party

Consider hosting a Pizza or cookie baking birthday party this year for your child. Children don an apron and pitch in to help create something fun to eat. If baking cookies, make sugar cookie dough ahead of time and simply have the children help roll it out and cut out the cookie shapes. They can decorate their cookies with various sugars and frostings.

For a pizza baking party, let children help roll out the dough and then let them add their own favorite toppings.

Aprons make great party favors. The children can decorate them with a set of Crayola fabric markers and will love taking them home to show mom and dad.
PrairieOrchid.com

I Want to Do the Bake Work Today!

In our Montessori Preschool, the children can choose to bake if they like. "I want to do the bake work today!" Many mornings, that is the first thing I hear as they slowly straggle in. It is definitely the best loved project in our little school.

But, what draws children to cooking and baking? So many things are wonderful about it. They see their parents do it every day. They get to measure, pour, taste, feel, and smell - it involves ALL of our senses. And, best of all, they get to share something they have created with those they love most!

Share the Wonders of baking with your children - they will learn a valuable tool that will remain with them their entire life.
PrairieOrchid.com

Create Something Special

Last night my son and I whipped up a large pitcher of homemade lemonade. He was simply thrilled at the idea and raced to don his apron. His job was doing the "first" squeeze and removing the seeds while I had the job of getting the rest of the juice out.

When you take the time to create something different and special, it makes lasting memories. Let your children be a part of your time in the kitchen, and soon they will be making you dinner in the evening!

Prairie Orchid Children's Aprons

Teach Children About the Food Groups

From an early age, begin teaching your children about the different food groups. Encourage your children to eat 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit each day. One serving of vegetables equals 1 cup of leafy greens, 3/4 cup of vegetable juice, or 1/2 cup cooked or raw chopped vegetables.

Avoid using food as reward or punishment. Sending children to bed without dinner may make them think they will starve over night. They may then try and eat whenever they can to avoid starving. Sweets as a reward sends a message that sweets have more value. The best way to encourage good eating habits is to teach by example. Eat a healthy diet and your children will follow.

When baking, include recipes that include fruits and vegetables, for instance; corn muffins, apple cake and banana bread. And, most important, let your children help out as they love eating what they have helped to create.