Getting preschoolers into the kitchen is not only a terrific way to spend time with them, it also provides many opportunities to introduce your little ones to new language, math, and life skills.  Here are some easy (and tasty!) recipes to prepare together.

Snowball Cookies

Little hands will enjoy helping to shape these tasty no-bake cookies into balls.

Ingredients

  1 package of shortbread cookies
  1 cup flaked coconut
  1 ⅔ cup sifted powdered sugar (divided use)
  ½  cup frozen limeade, thawed

Equipment              

  Zip top bag
  Measuring cups
  Wooden spoon or rolling pin
  Mixing bowl and spoon
  Baking sheet

Directions

  1. Place cookies into a large zip top bag.  Pound cookies with the back of a large wooden spoon or rolling pin until crushed into fine crumbs.  Alternately, process the cookies into crumbs ahead of time with a food processor.
  2. Mix together cookie crumbs, coconut and ⅔ cup of the powdered sugar in a mixing bowl.  Stir in limeade concentrate; mix well.
  3. Place remaining powdered sugar onto a baking sheet; set aside.  Using your hands, roll cookie dough into small balls; roll into powdered sugar to coat.

  You may substitute orange juice or lemonade concentrate for the limeade for a change.

Traditional pizza gets a no-bake update in this tasty and kid-friendly version.

Ingredients

  Fruit-flavored cream cheese
  Small flour tortillas
  Fruit: Sliced kiwi, grapes, strawberries and/or bananas, raisins, or dried cranberries or blueberries
   
Equipment

  Spatula
  Knife

Directions

  1. Spread cream cheese onto each tortilla.
  2. Arrange sliced and/or dried fruit on top of cream cheese. Cut into wedges; enjoy!

  You may substitute peanut butter for the cream cheese.

Piglets in a Blanket

This kids' favorite has been miniaturized for extra fun!

Ingredients

  Small cocktail smoked sausages, warmed
  Cocktail-sized bread (or sandwich bread cut into quarters)
  Ketchup or mustard for dipping

Equipment

  Toothpicks

Directions

  Place a sausage diagonally onto a slice of bread.  Bring the corners of the bread towards the sausage; secure with a toothpick.  Repeat with remaining ingredients.  Serve with ketchup or mustard for dipping. 

  For a vegetarian version, substitute cheese sticks for the cocktail sausage and dip in ranch-style salad dressing.

Tips for Cooking with Preschoolers

• Be prepared! Make sure you have all ingredients and tools needed before starting. If you're working with younger kids, having the ingredients pre-measured may be useful. Older preschoolers enjoy helping with measuring.
• It's more about the process than the product.
• Kids won't care if each cookie is perfectly round. What they'll remember is spending time with you.
• Describe, describe, describe. Talk with your preschooler about what you're doing. What color or shape is it? Take a moment to smell or taste ingredients before they get mixed into the recipe.
• Count out loud whenever possible.
• There are so many opportunities to introduce new language while cooking with kids.

Besides being a wife and mom, Michelle Anderson is also a freelance writer, and enjoys public speaking, writing cookbooks .  Her blog can be found at MichelleAnnAnderson.com.