Food & Nutrition Child Developement

Getting your kids in the kitchen can give them a good start on learning a valuable life-skill; cooking. Start them young and they are more likely to enjoy the process. There’s something oddly satisfying about enjoying foods that you make yourself. It’s a great idea to start small, so it’s something simple that children can make and master with a little supervision and thereby enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.  Let’s get your children started in the kitchen, with a refreshing glass of lemonade! What’s more, lemons are high in vitamin C, a natural antioxidant which boosts the immune system.  It’s not just a coolant for a warm sunny day but because of its antiviral and antibacterial properties, lemon juice is also a very effective solution against common colds and cholera.

So let’s get our Jazzy Juicers squeezing, stirring and pouring in the kitchen today!

Warning: Undiluted lemon is bad for your teeth. Ensure that your children are consuming the lemonade, only after sufficient dilution.

Things You Will Need

• 1 small lemon or any other citrus fruit (e.g Orange)
• 2 glasses of water 
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Knife to cut the fruit
• Lemon squeezer or your hands will do too
• Spoon to stir

Learning Objectives

While you follow the activity, ensure you focus on

• Language: Vocabulary of the ingredients and utensils used
  Action words (like Squeeze, Stir, Pour)
• Numeracy: Measuring the ingredients, Counting while stirring 
• Fine Motor: Different grip styles for cutting, squeezing, stirring, and pouring  
• Cognitive: Following a recipe sequentially as described
• Object recognition: Lemon, glass, spoon, and distinguishing salt and sugar
• Sensory: Taste (Lemon - Sour, Salt - Salty, Sugar - Sweet), Smell (Sweet, Citrusy), Touch (Lemon skin, Particles sizes of salt and sugar).

Let's Get Started :)

Watch & follow along with this Activity Video or read the instructions below :) This video includes step by step instructions that make it easy for your child to follow.
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‍Preparation:

Get all the things you’ll need (listed above) ready.

Game On!

Step 1: Ingredients match and count
Use the Ingredient Flashcards to find, name and measure the objects we’ll need today - Lemon, Sugar, Salt, and Water.

Step 2: Recipe sequencing

Arrange the (already numbered) Recipe Flashcards in sequential order to get your final steps for the recipe. 

Step 3: Make the lemonade

Follow the instructions in order of the recipe you created in Step 2. 

As you do, call out the actions involved in every step - Cut, Squeeze, Stir, Pour

Step 4: Service!

Pour the lemonade into smaller glasses. A good time to practice volumetric division as well. How many glasses can this jug fill?

Step 5: Drink and Enjoy

Now is when you get to enjoy the refreshing drink you have created! As you drink and relax, voice out how you’re feeling now. Express joy, tiredness, etc.

Printables: 

Print and cut them out, to create flashcards for the ingredients and recipe.

Activity Adaptation & Variations

For older children 

Ask your child to make it for the entire family by letting them explore by playing with multiples and quantities.  

They can also have some fun with a trading and purchase activity, by setting up a Jazzy Juicer stall for the family :)

Introduce new vocabulary such as “citrus”, and its role in increasing our “immunity”.

Talk about parts of a “solution” (Water - “Solvent”; Lemon juice, sugar & salt - “Solute”)

Also, discuss the mechanics behind squeezing and stirring. 

For younger children 

Pre-cut the lemon for young children. Also keep a wipe handy, to clean up any spills. 

Use the ingredient cards to play a match-to-object activity, where they match the ingredients to each card. 

For children with Vision Impairment 

Create tactile vocabulary cards for the ingredients (lemon, sugar, salt, water) and the actions (cut, pour, stir) (Refer the cards used in this hot chocolate making activity)

Focus on the textures, taste and smells of the ingredients. How would you differentiate between the salt and the sugar? 

Your child might also need more help with pouring liquids. Use peas or beans instead of water to practice pouring before doing this activity. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this activity with your child and we have no doubt you’ll have enthusiastic jazzy juicers on your hands. What shall we make in the kitchen next time?