[vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_ctation ctaction_background=”#92acd3″ ctaction_background_hover=”#92acd3″]There are so many ways to teach time in the kitchen! From heating ingredients using time intervals to managing time during recipes, kids can learn kitchen skills and how to tell time all at once.[/ultimate_ctation][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Here are a few ideas for helping your child build their time-telling skills as they bake and cook in the kitchen.
- Keep an eye on the clock.
As you make recipes, teach kids to pay attention to how long things need to be on the stove or in the oven or microwave. Show them how to check the time and calculate at what time ingredients or a recipe will be done. This will encourage them to keep an eye on the clock and keep reading the time to check when things will be ready. Try this with an analog and digital clock to help kids practice reading both. Kids can try keeping an eye on the clock as they mix batter for a certain amount of time, freeze dough for a few minutes, or complete another small task.
- Read a digital timer.
Instead of watching the clock, you can have kids try setting a digital timer on the oven or microwave which they will watch countdown. Everytime they check the countdown, they will technically be reading a digital clock. However, you’ll need to explain the difference that as a digital timer counts down, it displays minutes and seconds versus hours and minutes being displayed when used as a clock. You can try out a timer for things like letting eggs boil on the stove, letting cookies bake in the oven, or completing another longer task.
- Measure intervals.
Lots of recipes require intervals such as recipes where you need to melt chocolate in intervals or sometimes even recipes for cooking meat. When you see intervals in a recipe, use this as a chance for your child to practice telling time by measuring the start and end of intervals. You can take this a step further and have them map out when the entire process will be done based on the number of intervals needed.
- Timing their pace.
Another way kids can work with time in the kitchen is by timing themselves during different tasks. Have them see how fast they peel a potato or whisk batter by having them check the time before and after they complete a task.
- Check the time at mealtimes.
And perhaps the easiest way to practice time in the kitchen is to challenge your child to read the time as often as possible. A great time to practice this skill with kids is during different meal times. Simply have a child check the clock whenever they sit down to eat and read it aloud to you.
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