It can be easy to underestimate our children from time to time, especially when it comes to how much responsibility they can handle. However, even young children and children with special needs can help you plan and prepare dinner. All it takes is some creativity and patience.
When it comes to meal prepartion, let kids have a say in the menu. They can choose which vegetables they would like and can flip through children’s cookbooks, like The Everything Kids’ Cookbook, for ideas on meals they would like to create. This is fun and allows them to feel important.
Turn grocery shopping into a scavenger hunt and let kids go on a search for the items you need, especially the ones they may have picked out on their own.
Allow kids to participate in the preparation process. Make sure all children are well supervised of course. (No knives involved please) Younger kids can wash veggies, mash potatoes, and mix ingredients that you have helped them to measure. Older kids can help with the same tasks as well as set the table. If you are nervous about the kids making a mess as they smash those potatoes or mix ingredients, try putting the ingredients in a large, sealed ziploc bag and letting them mash and mix with their hands while keeping everything contained.
Allowing kids to participate will not only help them learn math skills (how many apples do we need, how much will this cost if we get two, we need to measure 1/4 cup), but they will learn responsibility and independence while sparking their imaginations. Plus, they will be more likely to eat what they have helped create.