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Parents often are in search of creative activities for their children, sometimes simply to distract them from video games or the TV, and cooking fits that niche admirably. You don't have to be a skilled chef to have fun in the kitchen; simple recipes abound, from cooking instant oatmeal to building a sandwich to making fruit salad. Cooking together also provides the chance to teach your child a wide variety of things, including the basic principles of healthy eating and even a little reading and arithmetic. Finally, sharing an activity like cooking with your child when he's young can lay the foundation for good communication when he's older. What better reason to consider setting aside time at least once a week to hang out together in the kitchen?Preparing meals offers countless opportunities to teach your young child arithmetic, new words, measuring skills, and the importance of following instructions. Use the time to reinforce school lessons in such subjects as spelling and geography and to teach your youngster about different cultures. Try to avoid sounding preachy, however--especially to a school-age child or adolescents. Teach through example by modeling desirable behavior, and praise your child for his good efforts. Remember, the important thing is to have fun. At "La Petite Ecole" we are proud to spend time coocking with kids.
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