This post might ruffle some feathers for any parents (especially moms reading this) but eh, I don't care and like I've said since starting my blog, these posts are therapeutic for me while always sharing in my opinions, thoughts, and suggestions. If you don't like it, you don't have to keep reading my blog, not like I'm forcing you to. So if you're offended, sorry but no sorry and I have no control of your emotions.
Growing up my mother was always pretty good about dividing her time with one-on-one time with me and all her house chores, but to be honest she didn't really play with me as much as I would have liked. That doesn't mean I hated my childhood by any means, it just helped me to understand better what type of mom or what things I wanted to do for when I had kids is all. So hence the "kids kitchen helper" was purchased; something used by not just my first kiddo but also my second. It actually helped immensely because while they began to start to stand up and walk, it was a great reinforcer, SO once each of my kiddos were in the kitchen area they would be using the kitchen help to stand up and crawl/walk up to be at the counter level. If my sister had her way, my kids would've had pillows surrounding the area or maybe some thick blankets and then she was anxious that I wasn't always immediately next to them. Like I couldn't run the five steps! Moving on...So each day they would gain confidence and reassurance of their movements and their task independently. The best part was that they each began seeing what their mommy was doing in the kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and dinners.
By this time mind you, I've also incorporated my kids (as they're growing) into "playing" clean up; they would try brooming, vacuuming, dusting, and taking out the trash. SO having them be a part of each and every meal is only going to engage them some more but this time all of their senses.
It really doesn't matter what you end up doing with your children so long as its a joint effort or that you don't go coddling them so much that they don't even feel able to do the task you've given them. Kitchen tasks can be both fun, stimulating, and engaging for their minds and their hands on learning experience. Don't go withholding that growth from them because YOU the parent are scare or fearful of the outcome, pretty big injustice if you ask me. And yes there's also the fact that the task might take about 20x LONGER! But that's how it will start, as they grow it becomes more fun and memorable than when it started...
The video below is when the dinner menu has green beans as one of the side dishes. So there we go prepping and doing the green beans :)
It started off with small things or simple things, kind of like the videos you see here, and then as they got older I started allowing them to work some kitchen appliances as well as sharper items-obviously all supervised, but the point I'm getting at is that I didn't allow concern or fear to hold back teaching them new things and having them help me. To date, my kids are both under eight years old and they know how to wash and store all fruits and vegetables, can assist me in all chores of the kitchen for set up and cleanup, they can assist me in all baking items and cooking items! They know how to make their own eggs and ham breakfast and warm up their tortillas, they can assist me in making homemade salsa's, etc. DO NOT let your own fears of the unknown or of the possibility of danger, especially knowing that you are physically right there in all senses (NOT on your damn phone and physically there but actually focused as much as your kids are in the task) then everything will be and work out fine! Then your kid/s little face/s of proud accomplishment will shine like no other! Yes don't be dumb and have them working a high pressured or dangerous appliance that they could really harm themselves-I mean hopefully you as the parent can use your sense of common sense or judgement and know what your child/ren CAN handle as far as the new task/s and responsibility that you are entrusting in them. Because entrusting your kid with those important tasks is how they build their self-esteem and character, don't do it and you're GOING to end up having a child who will ALWAYS struggle with responsibilities and hard tasks...
I know some of you are probably thinking "child labor" (laughing out loud) or that maybe I'm making my kids grow up to fast or thats too big of a responsibility - shut the fuck up is all I have to say! Because you are then the parent who is contributing to society these dumb ass kids who literally can't do anything without their mommy/daddy moving and doing or WORSE you're the parent who coddles your kid SO much that you even after to go into their job interview! Yes there are some weird stories that have been published of some of those crazy parents - go google them!
Give it a try and see what your kids can accomplish or perhaps just help them enjoy some time with you while helping you...Let me know how it goes!
Sincerely,
A Distinct Woman
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