Parents and caregivers often struggle with trying to teach their child to make something for themselves or others to eat. Making a meal or snack is an example of a daily living skill that most children should learn to do. This daily living skill is very useful throughtout the life of the child in different living situations and contributes to the level of independence the child achieves for himself in his life. In choosing a food to teach your child one should consider both factors related to the child in general and factors that will improve the speed of learning for the child. The following are some factors to consider.
The parent or caregiver might chose a food that would benifit the child to be able to make. If he enjoys eating a particular food anyway such as popcorn or a peanut butter sandwich then this might be a good choice of snacks for him to learn since it is important to the child. The food should be a food that he likes. If you teach him to make something he does not like he will be less likely to make it and less likely to have progress learning to make it. If the child does not like green beans this would not be a good choice of foods to learn to eat. The parent or caregiver might select foods that others like too. For example, if everyone likes cookies you might by some cookie dough that can be made in the microwave and can be shared with others. When you share the food with others they will reinforce the child with social praise and facial expession that indicates how much they appreciate the childs' efforts to prepare the food. Also, you are teaching the child to share at the same time if the child prepares a food that others might enjoy having also.
The parent or caregiver might chose a food that would benifit the child to be able to make. If he enjoys eating a particular food anyway such as popcorn or a peanut butter sandwich then this might be a good choice of snacks for him to learn since it is important to the child. The food should be a food that he likes. If you teach him to make something he does not like he will be less likely to make it and less likely to have progress learning to make it. If the child does not like green beans this would not be a good choice of foods to learn to eat. The parent or caregiver might select foods that others like too. For example, if everyone likes cookies you might by some cookie dough that can be made in the microwave and can be shared with others. When you share the food with others they will reinforce the child with social praise and facial expession that indicates how much they appreciate the childs' efforts to prepare the food. Also, you are teaching the child to share at the same time if the child prepares a food that others might enjoy having also.
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