Month: July 2016

Mrs Eio is starting a new category in her blog- Little kitchen helper. 

Practical Reason: some of her SAHM or mommies friends are asking what she does with her kids at home? How she get them to help to prepare their lunch or dinner? What exactly Eio kids do when they help to prepare meals? 

Here’s some photos & descriptions for easier references. Just sharing some ideas. She’s sure many mommies are doing similar stuff or even better job out there!👍

Please note that most of the photos are back dated as Mrs Eio didn’t really take photos recently when the kids help out. Will try to make an effort to take photos if possible. 😁

Why does Mrs Eio need helpers in her kitchen? Very practical reasons again! 

1. It’s a life skill they need to learn. Just like some parents think learning how to swim is important. 😊
2. It’s educational. Eggs are not scrambled, poached, fried or sunny side up. There’s egg white & yolk too. Lol. 
3. Instead of them playing & starting to get bored… bickering around evening time… Come on! Do something constructive with/for mommy & the family! 
4. Kids to learn the process & be appreciative. If Eio kids ever question their mommy why cook this dish today or gets bored with certain dish. OK! DIY!!! After the kids started helping in the kitchen, they can better understand it really takes effort for mommy to prepare a meal for them!
5. Eio kids like to help in the kitchen. They like to stand around to see how Mrs Eio prepare a meal. Aiyoh! Don’t stand around. Help out lah! 

  
There’s couple of “things to note” before getting the little helpers to help in the kitchen.

7 key pointers for mommies: 

• The task assigned must be age appropriate! You can’t expect a 2 years old to fry an egg?!?!? Probably learn how to crack an egg is more age appropriate.
• Starts with small & simple tasks. Please refrain from getting the little helpers to do complicated tasks when they are asked to help for the first time round. There’s a possibility of them messing things up. If mommy starts to get upset due to the mess, they get discouraged. 
• Set rules & boundaries. Be clear with your instructions. Hello! They are kids! There’s stove, knives (dangerous items) etc in the  kitchen. You really want the kids to know this is not a playground right from the start! Especially if you have more than 1 little helper! 
• Avoid wastage & unnecessary “volcano eruption”(getting upset). Eg. You may wanna scoop out the pasta sauce or put some ingredients into bowls to avoid the little helpers from spilling the entire can of sauce or messing up all the ingredients. 
• Preparations needed depending on what you are getting the kids to help you in. Eg. Stools if your kids can’t reach the table top. Cutleries that’s suitable for kids’ use etc. 
• Provide compliments & affirmation when you see job well done or good behaviors. Practice makes perfect. The more the kids do, it’ll get better. 
• Last but not least, adult supervision is absolutely required!!! They are little helpers. Not adults. It’s important to teach them how to use a plastic knife & supervise how they do the task. 

    
Egg burgers: 

As you can see the Eio kids crack eggs & add the sesame oil, salt & pepper to the egg. Beat the eggs. But Mrs Eio did not let them fry the eggs then as they were already very hungry. As of now, both kids can crack an egg. Em can crack it beautifully without breaking the yolk most of the time. El is still trying to attain that standard. 

 Making burger… Spread butter… Add tomatoes, eggs etc. 

   
Eat lah! Yummy! 

From level of difficulty 1-5, 1 being easiest. This kind of preparation is considered level 1. Easy for both their age. For el perhaps it’s 1.5.. But still, very safe & easy to manage. 😊

 
Frankly speaking, when these little kitchen helpers prepare their meals, they tends to finish everything. Lol. 

Enjoy…😄