Cookbooks are books too. An easy, fun, and interactive way to “read” with our kids this summer is to use cookbooks!

There are so many benefits to using cookbooks with our kiddoes. We’re asking them to read, think, evaluate, and create all at the same time! As an old-school teacher, I like that we’re covering a lot of Bloom’s Taxonomy with this family activity.

Here’s a simple step-by-step activity to follow if you’d like to integrate cooking into a summer routine:

1. Look through your cookbooks and decide which one would be a nice selection for your child, based on their age and food tastes.
2. Go through some recipe ideas with your child, reading ingredients. Let your child choose a recipe that they’d like to put together with you (comparing, evaluating).
3. Plan a time to go to the grocery store or the farmer’s market together to select fresh ingredients (comparing, contrasting, evaluating).
4. Assemble your ingredients and read through the recipe again with your child (organizing).
5. CREATE the recipe together, following the directions and re-reading line by line (creating- the top level!). Let your child take the lead with measuring, pouring, mixing, etc.
6. Set the table together. This is becoming a lost art…..teach them about where utensils go and how to properly set a nice, simple table.
7. Eat and enjoy, as a family!…..and let them take pride in the decision making, the selection, and the delicious result of your reading/cooking project.

As a parent, you’ve just been READING with your child, CREATING with your child, and TEACHING THEM about healthy foods and choices. And the best part of all, you’ll have something fun and delicious to enjoy together as a result!

*sidenote: a simple garden with fresh vegetables can really add to the experience, even just some pots with tomatoes or herbs!

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