Ingredients
ingredients
salad of your choice
equipment
a serving bowl or platter
Preparation
1- All this kitchen task is, is asking your little to transfer the salad from one container (or bag) to another. If you purchase pre-washed salad or if you wash & store it yourself, pull out your bag or container.
2- Set up your little with the bag or container and the recipient you’d like the salad to land in.
3- If you are pulling from a bag, your salad is most likely ready to serve. Direct your little to transfer the salad from the bag into your recipient.
4- If you wash your salad yourself, there is a good chance that it’s not pre-cut. Standing next to your little at the work station, cut up your salad into a pile and ask your little to then put it in your recipient.
5- That’s it. A simple, low maintenance kitchen task that allows participation in the kitchen and can bring some easy confidence to your little. Have fun!
Step 1
I buy heads of lettuce, wash & dry them and then store them like my grandma did in a tupperware layored with paper towels to absorb the moisture.
In my case, I ask my daughter to do the small child-friendly tasks. Taking off the paper towels while I cut up the lettuce.
I pile up the cut up lettuce for her to then put into my salad bowl when she is ready.
She puts the salad in the salad bowl at her own pace.
Naturally, she squeezes the salad a bit and I do my best to lightly guide her to gently pick up the salad without being too naggy.
I can see her confidence build little by little and it seems like a small thing but it's the small things that count anyways right!? Have fun with it!
Here is a simple kitchen task for you little to build some confidence. My daughter is 2.5 years old in these photos. She shows consistent interest in the kitchen and at this point in my food journey I do find it hard to include her. So this is really a great task if you are having a hard time too.
It doesn’t take much time, little mess, give them satisfaction that they were able to help. I can’t promise they will then ask for another task ha!
*ps- my daughter does not eat salad. She just wants to help preparing it.
Here is a breakdown of steps for those of you that want the nitty gritty stepy by step details.
PARENT- Set up your little’s work station with your salad recipient, their kitchen stool or tower and the salad.
PARENT- Explain to them that they will be transferring the salad from a bag (if ready to serve) or from the pile of lettuce that you will be cutting. Make sure to use your please and thank yous.
KIDDO- Transfers salad from bag into the bowl or from the cut pile into the bowl. At their own pace.
PARENT- Guides Little on how to gently transfer salad leaves. Stay with them through the process. Make sure to thank them for a good job at the end.
*if your Little starts acting up or having a hard time, in my experience it’s best to end the task before it turns into a meltdown. Follow their cues, your good senses and do whats best for the both of you. You know your child best.
