Art Of Cooking Could Be Included In Holiday Diversions For Children

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 2

Art Of Cooking Could Be Included In Holiday Diversions For Children

If the children are not lucky enough to be going into the country for the school holidays, it is sometimes difficult to provide them with an interesting occupation, especially on a cold, rainy day. Mothers of nine-year-olds and over might like to give them the freedom of the kitchen occasionally and encourage them to cook e> Much better, for everybody’s peace of mind, than verbal instructions is a printed cookery book. The Children's Library has. I find, several attractive cookery books specially prepared for boys and girls. Most of them have bright pictures, clear instructions and not too many recipes. My favourite, perhaps because it is already a good friend in my own household, is “ Come Into the Kitchen.” Designed for the 10-year-old, it gives the most exact instructions on the preparation of simple foods—making a cup of tea. cooking eggs and bacon, baking scones and finally achieving Sunday night supper—all well within the compass of a child’s ability to perform. In the introduction the authors give parents the advice—” Don't hover —just relax and wait for the proud achievement.’’ All mothers will greet with special thanksgiving the instruction, ” Wipe the kitchen table; then sweep up any crumbs from the kitchen floor." After some preliminary help in the use of the stove and in assembling the utensils and ingredients, the best thing to do is to shut the kitchen door and leave them to it—and eat the result with as much praise as you can. The Country Library service, I was told, has a great demand for children’s cookery books. It is perhaps because the cinema is not so easily visited, or perhaps country folk, realising the importance of good food, consider that an early training in its preparation is desirable. E. M. P.