Peeling and Slicing Carrots

Before delving into this fun activity, I wanted to share my excitement about continuing to partner with companies who strive to provide families with natural, earth-friendly materials. I recently teamed up with Simply Real Foods Market. I love that their products are organic, natural, and Non-GMO. Additionally, they sell everything at wholesale value! I am continue to love Monti Kids' toy kits. Their Montessori-inspired toys are made with natural-colored materials without lights, sounds, and many bright colored patterns, allowing your child to concentrate without distraction and over-stimulation. Finally, Sprout Kids is my new favorite place for furniture. They strive to create spaces that encourage creativity, independence, and confidence, while using natural and sustainable materials. I recently ordered their table and chair set, and I cannot wait to use it for these cooking activities!

Okay onto this week's activity!

Color coordinating and keeping everything in an orderly fashion supports your child's sense of order.

You will need:

1. Long carrots (I boil these the night before so that they are softer and easier to peel)
2. A bowl or container to hold the carrots
3. A small knife 
4. A small peeler
5. A small cutting board
6. A small pair of tongs to transfer the carrots
7. A small serving plate on which to place the peeled and sliced carrots

  Why I love this activity: the lesson requires great motor and self control, your child's sense of order is supported, as they must follow a logical sequence of movements, and this serves as a motive for repetition which leads to concentration and the solidification of skills and knowledge. 

Remember to move slowly, as you will want your child to be able to analyze your movements.

Show your child how to transfer a carrot from the bowl to the cutting board with the tongs. Demonstrate how to peel the carrot (because the carrots have been boiled ahead of time, the peels can be eaten) and transfer them onto the serving plate with the tongs. Then, show your child how to slice the carrot using the knife, and finally, demonstrate how to use the tongs to transfer the carrot slices onto the serving plate.

You may remember Abbigail from some of my other posts. I loved observing her concentration and hard work as she followed multiple steps to complete this activity. 

Observe how Abbigail uses her left, non-dominant hand to hold the carrot still, while using her right, dominant hand to peel.

As your child prepares food for their community, whether at school or at home, they are supporting their natural tendency to be part of community!