6 Ways to Teach Your Child to Cook

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Cooking is one of life’s valuable skills that you can teach your child. In this way, they will appreciate food safety and nutrition in addition to building their science, math, and fine motor skills.

Bringing your kid into the kitchen space can open a whole new world for them where they learn about different flavors, ingredients, recipes, and the how and why of mixing and measuring. In case you are wondering how to go about teaching your child how to cook, This article give 6 tips to help teach your child to cook.

  1. Build their Motivation

Instead of taking your kid right into the center of action in the kitchen, consider spending time together watching a cooking television show. This will give your child a visual idea of different cooking processes, utensils to use, and inspire them to start prepping their meals.

As part of the motivation, involve them in creating special menus which you then proceed to prepare together. Let them suggest and reflect on the various food categories to include as this can spur their creativity.

Naturally, children are inquisitive and tend to enjoy processes such as cooking where raw ingredients transform into a complete meal.

2. Assign them Simple Kitchen Duties

Before they get to the point where they handle the hot stoves and sharp knives, let your child participate in simple meal related processes  such as setting the table, carrying food dishes to the dining table, and taking away the used dishes after a meal.

Even though some of these tasks may look remote, asking your child to help in drying dishes, sweeping, or emptying the cutlery basket gives them the discipline of a master chef. Most of these duties demand that they hang out in the kitchen thereby becoming more comfortable with time.

Cooking is both an art and a science, every little attribute count. Allow your child to develop these soft skills early enough.

3. Incorporate Fun Cooking Utensils

Make the cooking process as fun as possible by using unique cooking utensils. There is no rule cast in stone that a particular utensil can only be used in a specific way. If you are running short of ideas on the utensils to include, visit Village Bakery.

This is a resourceful platform that showcases among other things, specialty appliances, kitchen appliances, baking equipment, and other necessitates. Just as an idea, you can get cookie cutters and potato smashers for 3 to 5-year olds; peelers and blunt scissors for 6 to 7-year olds; food thermometers, kitchen knives, and pans for 8 to 12-year olds.

4. Begin with Simple Meals

Snacks and breakfast meals are some of the easiest to prepare. The point here is to introduce your child to the basic meal assembling process so that they can begin with minimal supervision. Instruct them and then give them space as you watch them mixing the cereals and milk, scooping yogurt and pouring juice.

Children love being in control and therefore even when helping them out, do part of the task and let them complete the other part. For instance, you may add the toppings to a pasta salad and then give them the space to create their own little pasta salad.

5. Address Basic Safety Skills

If your child is age 5 and above, it is easier to enlist their help with the actual cooking. Safety in the kitchen is paramount and the earlier your child gets it the better. Teach them safe knife skills by assigning them the soft and easy to cut ingredients such as tomatoes and bananas.

When it comes to the boiling pot, teach them how to stir gently so that the fluids do not bubble out or spill and scald them. If the pot is not very heavy, train them on how to take it out of the oven.

6. Pick Favorite Recipes and Cook Together

Being the closest person in your child’s life, you must have noticed what they like to eat. Starting with such recipes that interest them, shortens their learning curve and opens the door to more fun. You may be surprised by their ability to grasp even fairly complex recipes simply because of their interest.

The process to teach your child to cook is not any different from the other learning processes. The more your child practices in the kitchen and takes instructions from you, the more their knowledge is reinforced. Introduce variations from time to time and try giving them space and some independence in the kitchen. You never know what they are capable of doing until you try it.

Tree House Project: Make Your Kids Wishes Come True

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Tree houses were all about a quick assembly of a simple little house where the kid could play with a bunch of friends and lead imaginary life. Today, tree houses are more of a complex building that includes certain luxuries unknown to the previous generations. Even so, this type of tree house building has a lot of benefits for the kids – a mutual work between the parents and the kids will bring out a lot of fun and educational experience.

The benefits of building a tree house

Building a modern tree house with your kids will take a couple of days, maybe more, but every step of the process will bring a teachable moment for the kids.

Physical activity – kids won’t even notice how hard they work while they are helping you build the tree house. This helps them be highly physically active, strengthening them and making them fit. It is an easier form of getting them active than forcing them to do regular exercises or a sport they don’t enjoy. Obesity is a frequent issue with kids of newer generations, and an outdoor project is what will entertain them and help them fight it.

Teamwork and problem-solving – the motto here is: the more, the merrier. Including the whole family will create team spirit and strengthen the bond between you. You will have a mutual goal you are aspiring to. And let’s not forget the problem-solving skills your kids will improve. Starting from calculating the size of the walls, the exterior look, the materials that have to be used and even the budget you need to stick to – your kids can be included in every step of the process, making their contribution, realizing what the limits are and how to overcome certain challenges. And all of that being done with close members of the family, figuring out the problems together.

Connecting with nature – spending too much time indoors separates children with natural processes around them, like changing seasons, leaves falling off, blooming of the flowers and lives of small animals around them. Building a tree house will expose your kids to the natural environment, and every day they spend outside working on the tree house (and later on, in the tree house that’s been completed) will show them what happens in the world around them, creating a strong connection with the living things in their backyard.

Sensitivity to risk – while building a tree house, there are certain things that can go wrong and endanger your kids’ safety, so it’s highly important to teach the kids about the necessity of taking precautions to avoid any injuries. Children learn from what they see, so make sure you are the role model demonstrating a cautious approach to work in order to protect yourself and others. It will prepare your kids for the potential risks in the future – they will learn to think in advance about possible dangers and they will know how to protect themselves.

Necessary tools for the construction

You don’t need a workshop to build a tree house, but here’s a list of the necessary equipment that will ensure quicker work, too.

Firstly, it’s important to note that angles and measurements stay accurate, so this is the part where your kids can help – but always double-check everything before you actually start cutting. A circular saw will save you a lot of time and effort here.

Next, as you will have to cut beams, studs and joists at a precise 90° so that they are connected firmly, a speed square is another useful tool for the precision.

A cordless and a corded drill are the next necessity, depending on the size of the hole you will need to drill.

Folding sawhorses are very stable even though they are really light. You can use them for cutting beams or to support a table with tools and smaller parts.

The safety gear you will need includes safety glasses to protect eyes from the dust and debris, cut-resistant gloves with a good grip. Earplugs to prevent hearing loss from loud noises, those power tools are sometimes just too noisy. And of course a pair of Australian work boots that provide protection and stability when doing any kind of handiwork around your house.

The most important parts

Supports is what you need to first decide on, and they include:

Posts – as they are inserted into the ground, they damage the tree the least.

Bolts – even though this is the traditional method, beams and platforms being inserted into the tree, this is very damaging to the tree.

Suspension – chains and ropes are what you use to suspend the house from bigger branches, but it isn’t appropriate for heavier constructions.

The platform and deck are the parts that need to be leveled and built as close to the trunk as possible, which could mean you will have to cut some holes if some branches get in the way. The deck should include railing so that no one falls off.

The access to the tree house – if the tree house is lower to the ground, it will be enough to put a rope ladder or the wooden one. But if the structure is high in the tree, a long wooden ladder with a handrail would be a better choice. If your kids enjoy adventures, you could even consider building a spiral ladder around the trunk.

Final words

Once you know the basic elements you need to have and to plan, they only thing left to do is to get on to work together, enjoy the learning process and everything that comes after it.

5 Fun Activities to Do With Your Family on Weekends

 

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Are you often occupied by your work? When was the last time you had great cozy moments with your family?

If you can’t answer these questions affirmatively, you need to seriously revisit the way you balance your personal and professional life.

In an era when more and more people are getting consumed due to professional obligations, when personal spaces are increasingly shrinking and being ceded to work and stress; spending some quality time with family certainly breathes a new lease of life. These are the moments that not only help you keep your stress at bay, but allow you to reconnect with your family in a way that the bond lasts for a long time to come. Plus, you are able to create a treasure trove of memories that always stay with you.

Here are ultimate fun activities that you can do with your family on weekends:

Visit Adventure Playgrounds

Your kids need their fair share of thrill and excitement, which is why adventure playgrounds are gaining momentum these days. There are loads of them springing up everywhere. Some are nestled in the grounds of stately homes, while others have some amazing walks and attractions. A boost of adventure for kids; these playgrounds are proving to be a perfect family getaway that consists of big and small pits with many other exciting structures. In addition to that, you will enjoy with farm animals, huge bouncy pillows and a small indoor soft play area. You can also get to see miniature railway, magical gardens, enchanted forests, mazes, tons of play areas and other brilliant activities in your great weekend family outdoor.

Go Hiking

Hiking is one of the most enjoyable outdoor excursions for families. A well executed hiking expedition allows you to hit the trails and spend quality time with your children. Even a growing body of research has suggested that exposure to the natural world – including nearby hills and woods – helps improve human health, well-being and intellectual capacity in many ways. Since you have to take your kids, you have to plan ahead as a responsible parent and complete the checklist well before hitting the trail. Keeping the age and energy levels of your children, you need to make hiking goals reasonable. Start early in the day when everyone is well-rested and keep them fed and hydrated. Make sure they have the proper footwear and let them choose the hiking destination and goals. Keep your excitement high by celebrating new discoveries around each bend.

A trip to an amusement park

Nothing can give you more joy than a jam-packed weekend trip to an amusement park with your family. Summer is just around the corner and your kids are looking forward to make most out of the season. So get ready to feel the super enjoyable amusement park experience with your children. However, before visiting the park, you need to make some planning on your part so that the trip would be safe and without unnecessary burden. Along with so many rides, food and loads of excitement, there are also long lines, overheated kids and meltdowns. So be an early bird and buy your tickets online to avoid the last minute hassle. Plus, it is good from financial point of view as many parks offer discounts via their social media pages. After that, pack the essential items extensively but lightly. Also be sure your favorite rides are open.

A DIY house party

If you don’t have enough time to hit the road and running against the clock, don’t worry – you can turn your house a party destination. Weekend is the perfect time for everyone to gel with each other and have fun. So a personal DIY party will do the trick for you in terms of easing out stress and create unforgettable memories. If you want to invite your friends over, it is even better. So be sure to stock up all the necessities you would require such as drinks, plates, food, glasses and snacks. It is always fun when you organize a theme based party such as superhero costumes and eco-friendly themes. Also you have to create a DIY décor accordingly. For kids, you can arrange customized water bottles and create your own personalized labels for them with your own texts and images. For adults, beer, wine and cocktails will be good entertainers.

An Awesome fishing spree

Fishing can be a fantastic getaway and fun sport for kids and their parents. It is a quality time spent together talking, laughing, enjoying nature, sitting quietly side by side, and most importantly learning patience. Figuring out where to go fishing with kids can be pretty overwhelming. So, look for local spots that feature a stocked pond or a fishing derby for guaranteed success. You can avail certain fishing expeditions that feature special family days and events where teaching the fishing basics is part of the experience. Thus, keep your outings early, short and fun.

Final Words

Your family is your lifeline and there are no two views on that. Try to be with your family whenever and wherever possible to create lifetime memories. So what is your idea of having a blast with you family on this coming weekend?

2 Emergency Procedures Your Child Should Know

Most kids are smarter than they look even at a tender age. They can take simple instructions, detect and respond positively to emergency situations.

You need to teach them the right emergency steps to take.

They should know when and how to respond if someone is in danger or when they find themselves in trouble.

Here are some emergency procedures your child should know.

Calling 911

Kids learn faster and have a good memory. If you teach them to make 911 calls during an emergency with practical demonstrations, they might save someone’s life or yours when the need arises.

Tips:

Don’t just talk without demonstration. Teach your kids of 4 years everything to need to know about making 911 calls such as;

What nine-one-one (911) means.

Make your child understand that 911 is the most important number to call in an emergency situation especially when an adult isn’t around. Also, explain to him or her that calling 911 without any cogent reason is punishable by the law.

Why should you call 911?

Explain to your child that calling 911 can save their life or that of the person in danger. Use different illustrations to show an example. You could pretend as if you are in danger and ask them to initiate such calls with a toy phone. Then, an adult can come in and pretend to rescue you after the child has provided all necessary information.

When is the right time to call 911?

Make your child understand that he or she can only call 911 when an adult isn’t around to help or when the neighbours are not around. An adult can also ask him or her to do so.

What happens when you call 911?

Explain to your child that when he or she calls the number, an emergency operator will send help to the scene to rescue the person in danger.

What to be their response when someone picks the call?

Teach your child how to respond by providing the location of the incident (house address) name, the condition of the person, and other vital information. Tell them never to end the call unless the operator asks them to.

Under what situation should they call 911?

Tell your child to use 911 under any of the following conditions; if daddy or mommy requests them to; if they discover that someone passes out. They should first attempt to wake the person up before making the call.

You need practical demonstrations to help your kids to understand better. Use a toy phone, not a real one. And explain to them that the real phone is only meant for real-life situations. Create a scene of someone in danger, and ask them to respond if as they are the only one around. Repeat this from time to time.

Additional tips for parents

  • Don’t make the mistake of referring to the number as nine-eleven. Your child may not be able to dial the number correctly in an emergency situation. Refer to it as nine-one-one.
  • Be sure that your child knows the house number and floor you are living. If there is a popular place around that can help the police to locate your house, always remind the child of it.
  • Your house number bold and clear, so that the police can easily locate it.
  • If you have elderly parents or people living with conditions like heart disease, diabetes or epilepsy, remind the child of what to do in an emergency situation and how to spot one.

Water safety skills

Teaching your child water skills is important, especially if you have a pool in your backyard. A child that is already of school age can learn how to save someone that is drowning without putting his or herself in danger.

Tips:

To demonstrate this practically, make sure you are a good swimmer. If you have a pool in your backyard, you can act like you are drowning and instruct your child on what to do.

The child’s response should be one among the following;

  • Get a flotation device and toss it into the pool close to the person.
  • Reach out to the person with a towel or kickboard
  • Know how to open a person’s airway

Warning tips:

  • Remind them of the dangers of jumping into the pool or river in such condition when they can’t swim.
  • Tell them to call for help immediately. Adults who are around can help.

Conclusion

Two things happen when you teach your child the right emergency steps. They can save someone’s life or theirs. Ensure you always use practical tips to help your child to understand better. Demonstrate the situation and watch them respond. Children are fast learners. And they learn better when they are taught verbally and practically. So, follow the tips above to train your child on how to respond to emergency situations, and you will be glad you did.

 

Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should Know

Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should Know

 

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By nature, a child likes to play around, do things on their own, sometimes lousy and even think they are old enough. Because all children are different, they exhibit different types of capabilities and skills. Remember, children have great individual variations of temperament, development and behavior.Every prepper plans and strategize for disasters but an often neglected aspect of prepping is training for children.

Help your growing child understand what is expected of him or her as they grow, with a little help from you as dear parents.

Since knowledge takes time to develop, so we need to start teaching them as soon as possible, and that is now.

Check out this article on the Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should Know to see what skills you should be teaching your kiddos.

Know how to make a fire.

Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should KnowYour child needs to know how to make a fire. You must be care to locate fire in a place where the wind wouldn’t blow directly on it, also, it works well in a large boulder. You need to have matches during camping and make sure your kid knows how to keep it safely under your control.

Know how to cook on a fire.

This survival skill is great to teach while you are on a camping trip. Help your kids how to cook on a fire and determine when food is ready to eat. You will need tinder, kindling, and logs.

Know to eat healthy and stay fit.

Your kids should know what foods are healthy to eat and how to stay in good shape. Explain the importance of having a healthy system and what it brings to you. If you are not in good shape, you will have a hard time surviving in a difficult situation.

Know how to handle and use a knife.

Every child should be shown how to hold and carry a knife for their own safety in everyday tasks around the house.

If an emergency occurs, a knife could be the only tool they will have available to help them survive until help arrives. Your child could learn using knife in cutting branches for shelter but also for hunting, if necessary, and to catch fish as well.

Know to find water and see if it’s safe to drink.

Help your child learn to locate water sources, and how to purify and clean the water, that is by using filters and boiling. Your child must know how to find water that is safe to drink.

In case your home has a deep well, you may continue to drink water from it and should be taught how to draw water from that well in case the electric is out. If your home does not have a well, then they need to search for bottled water.

Know basic first aid.

Every child should learn basic first aid and should know to treat wound or injury then tie a sling. Your child needs to be shown where your first aid supplies are stored and how to treat minor wound or injury. They also need to learn how to differentiate minor injuries from ones that require the attention of a doctor.

In case your child is alone, being able to cover and mend a cut or wound could save their life.

Know basic sewing.

Basic sewing should be taught to kids so they can patch clothing or any kind of garments when necessary. Mending clothes or any fabric and even make things like bags or scrap quilts are good advantage you can get when you know basic sewing.

Know basic self-defense.

Self-defense is another vital survival skill everyone should know, and that includes the kiddos. This is a skill your child needs to know to stay safe.

You can teach your child how to get away if someone grabs them. Instead of pulling away, tell your child to push towards the other person. Because of this, it could actually cause a person to lose its balance, then, will let go of your child as they would fall.

You don’t need to teach them any fancy skills – they need to know basic skills. Teach them to always follow their gut instincts. This could save your child’s life in a survival situation.

Know how to find or build shelter.

Your child needs to know how to find shelter away from home. Let them know the importance of a shelter in a survival situation and how to find a shelter when needed. under their clothes or use as a blanket.

Know how to read a map and compass.

Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should KnowA lost child is a scared child, and usually their first instinct is to begin searching for their family.

Teaching the kids reading a map is like making a lesson into a treasure hunt.

You may draw up a map marking the location of the treasure and then help them understand the directions.

Know where your family and friends live.

Your child needs to know where family and friends are to find a safe place especially if your child is in trouble. They need to know how to get to those safe homes.

Know what to do when they get lost.

A child if lost will sure feel uneasy and terrified. Wherever your child is lost; in a grocery store, on a hiking trip or along the street, the instruction is the same. In case your child realizes they lose their way, condition their mind to stop, sit as soon they are in this situation. No matter how scared they might be, assure them that you are searching for them.

Know how to grow garden.

Every child must need to understand how to plant a seed and harvest it. Teaching kids to grow their own food gives them knowledge and power. Encourage your child to learn and appreciate how to grow food.

Know what to do in bad weather.

Your child needs to know what to do when a bad weather is coming regardless he or she is both at home and away.  Does your child know what to do if he or she is home alone and a bad storm is coming?

Always plan on them being alone so that they can be independently safe, with this, they will not be dependent, they could count on themselves. Remind them to go to a basement and to stay away from windows.

Know how to swim.

Unfortunately, drowning is the third most common form of accidental death in children, so learning to swim really is an essential life skill. Swimming is one of the few skills that once learned is rarely forgotten. And, this is fun too for kiddos.

Know to raise and care for animals.

Teaching your kids, the responsibility of having a pet is very important and it is another great lesson to them. If you do not have room for livestock, consider keeping a few chickens or rabbits for your kids to care for.

Know basic woodworking.

If your kids could learn basic carpentry that will be a bonus.  If they can work well with woods or logs, then they can learn building almost everything. And, if possible, you can teach your kids to safely use tools like axe or hatchet in doing basic woodwork.

Know to Fish.

Fishing is easy to learn, easy to teach and doesn’t have to involve lots of expensive equipment. This can be a good bonding with the whole family especially on a vacation.

Know how to answer the door when they are home alone.

The best way is either not to answer or open the door. When the door is opened and closed with kids in and out, it leaves those in the home vulnerable to someone who is watching the home. Train your kid to be keen in keeping the windows locked, your blinds and curtains always closed.

Know how to climb a tree.

Top 20 Survival Skills a Kid Should KnowThis is part of the dangerous things you should let your kids do, as long as they are under your control.

Teach them how to climb safely which is really important, tell them when to stop climbing and when it is dangerous.

This skill can be useful because it eliminates a potential accident risk.

Final Say

One of the most important of parental goals is to make them independent and autonomous while they’re still young as soon as possible. As crises or emergencies arise, their survival training and real determination will decide if you get to ever tuck them in bed again.

When crisis strikes, knowing as many survival skills as possible may it’s a life and death situation for your children. You don’t have to be aggressive or scary about it, but you should teach your kids how to take care of themselves as they grow.

The sooner the children become self-sufficient, the greater their chance of surviving in any type of collapse. Make a game out of teaching survival skills and have fun with your child. You never know when your child may need to take care of himself/herself for a few days.

It’s your call.