It’s day one of summer vacation! Woo hoo! No hurrying, no rushing, no (ok, less) nagging! Now it’s all about keeping the kids busy. This summer we will try tennis, ride horses, take swim lessons, and go on lots of field trips. I am also teaching the kiddos to cook.
For a couple of months the boys have been making their own breakfasts and packing their own lunches with help. They have a chart with breakfast and lunch ideas, and they pick one item from each column, like fruit, dairy, main dish, etc.
I’m hoping to build their confidence in the kitchen this summer using ChopChop Magazine’s Cooking Club and recipes. This morning, the boys became “Blender Bosses.” Cooper made the Berry Bold Banana Smoothie, while Finley made his own, dubbed “Fruit Ninja” (banana, orange, mango with chia seeds). Side benefit: Finley, normally quite picky, drank his entire smoothie because he made it himself.
Tomorrow the boys will make Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas and Ole! Guacamole for dinner. I ordered these kid-friendly knives so I would not be as nervous about letting them chop.
I’m also printing out and collecting all their recipes into a looseleaf binder so they have their own cookbook.
What are you doing to keep your kids busy this summer?
Kirsten W. Larson 
I’m tired! You have so much patience! Sounds like a busy summer.
Don’t worry, we’re not trying it all at once. 😉
Cooking is fun. I wish my dog Cupcake would make me a smoothie once in a while. Or a quesadilla….. 🙂
Oh, you are on to my secret plan — to teach the kids enough so they can cook dinner for me! Now if I could only train the dog too…
Wow, you’re so organized for summer fun! We just got out of school & moved to a new city.
Wait, did you move again? Unpacking should keep you busy.
Yep, moved AGAIN! Teaching kindergarten this fall at a sister international school, close to the biggest U.S. base in Korea.
Wonderful!