Let's play!
“Mom, do you want to taste it? I made you some soup!” How many times have we obliged and played at tasting plastic food to please them?
It is well known that toddlers love to imitate their parents. It is not surprising that toys reproducing everyday objects, such as kitchenettes and kitchen accessories, are popular, generation after generation. They are more than just a game: they help develop their fine motor skills, explore imaginary worlds: in short, they contribute to their growth and understanding.
In addition to the timeless kitchens, many toys take the form of fruits, vegetables or kitchen utensils. A stuffed avocado , an Oreo cookie as a teething toy or why not a "fake" ice cream cone ? The choice is very varied in the Charlotte and Charlie stores.
At the table!
When it's time to move on to the "real" table, the meal becomes more enjoyable with utensils, dishes and accessories specially designed for small, sometimes clumsy hands. In addition to being durable and easily washable (we love it!), these sets allow the child to develop their autonomy and dexterity.
Here are four of our favorites:
This cute little baby meal set made of natural bamboo and with a teddy bear motif:
This baby meal set made from organic bamboo from the Cink company:
Ezpz's popular Happy Bowl Placemats that catch spills:
The ingenious wooden knife for children Coup Coup by Justenbois:
The benefits of cooking with the family
For kids, cooking can be just as much fun as crafting or playing. Turn your kitchen into a playroom and start with quick and easy tasks. A tip: make sure you have plenty of time! It always takes a little longer to cook with kids. It's best not to be in a hurry!
Did you know? By playing a role in meal preparation, children are not only proud, but they are also more tempted to try new flavors.
Is your baby too small to help? Move his high chair closer so he can see you cooking. Let him touch, smell and taste the food.
Budding chefs
Would your child like to develop their culinary skills or simply cook in a real chef's kitchen? The range of culinary classes and workshops for young people is exploding. It's a real craze (places go very quickly).
Here are some options in Quebec:
The Culinary Academy of Quebec offers parent and child cooking classes, supervised by experienced chefs. The plus: in addition to learning several techniques, we like that the space is spacious and similar to an industrial kitchen.
Limoilou's culinary hardware store La Folle Fourchette offers cooking workshops to children (5 to 11 years old) and teenagers (12 to 16 years old) every month. However, you have to book early because they fill up quickly!
Workshops are also offered in grocery stores. This is the case every week at the IGA Famille Girard in Saint-Augustin in particular, which welcomes teenagers to its thematic workshops.
More and more restaurants in the region occasionally offer cooking workshops for children. These are most often pastry workshops, as is the case at Comptoir boréal Chez Boulay and Chez Muffy at Auberge Saint-Antoine .
In the photo, my two children made Christmas cookies in the kitchens of Auberge Saint-Antoine.
In short, toddler or pre-teen: there is no age to start cooking.
Have fun with your family and enjoy your meal!
