A huge segment of the toy industry makes kids cameras, plastic hardware tools, faux art supplies, and character-branded naturalist equipment. The motivation for such things might be pure, but they are often cheaply-made, useless imitations of adult tools. I can’t tell you how many ‘kid’ versions of tools have met their end in our donation bin. We toss the plastic screwdriver that doesn’t actually work with screws, the cheapo watercolors that have no pigment, the [...]

It is afternoon, a time when summer boredom hits hardest.  Lil is whiny and wants nothing to do with any of the ideas I suggest.  That is, until I start working on dinner and ask if she would like to make a salad. She runs to her garden and picks what is ripe and fresh.  She brings them inside, washes, and begins to chop.  Lil dices carrots finely with an adult paring knife.  I teach [...]

Most children have an innate desire to mimic their parents.  This is especially true in the kitchen.  With the proper instruction and practice, children CAN do most everything adults do.  Turning their motivation into teachable cooking moments sets the foundation for a lifelong healthy relationship with food. Even young kids quickly become truly helpful cooks. In this busy age, having a child who is able to assist making meals and make themselves a snack is [...]