7 Easy Thanksgiving Desserts that Kids Will be Proud to Make Inside: Thanksgiving Desserts for kids and made by kids. Important: Keep kids safe in the kitchen! When teaching kids to cook, don’t forget to make sure they master Turkey Tetris. Seriously. Nothing makes you aware of how blessed you are like having to move a bunch of food around so you can fit an over-sized bird in your refrigerator. Remember- Your kids WANT to help when they are little. I think one of the the biggest mistakes we make is how we respond to the question, “Mommy, can I help?” “No, sweetie, go play while mommy cleans up/makes dinner/folds laundry.” When kids are 3-years old, we know that “let me make eggs” means they run to the fridge, open the door and break 11 eggs on the floor before we can stop them. But, this stage- the “can I help” stage is where the magic of raising wonderfully helpful teens happens. Answers to the question: Can I help? Absolutely! Yes! Here are your very own rubber gloves to protect your hands while you do dishes. Oh, thank you! Go get your apron. Pretty please! I need help making dinner. Of course! Many hands make light work! How would you like to help me? I was hoping you’d ask! Which job should mommy do, and which job should you do? Sure! Do you want to be the boss or the helper? Helping around the house should be fun, natural and expected. Create a special playlist that tune in kids to the fact that it’s time to cook, time to sweep, time to fold. Relationships aren’t built over coffee at a cafe; relationships are built over piles of dirty dishes and mounds of laundry. Food. It’s a BIG deal. We have encouraged our five sons to help in the kitchen from the time before they could walk (think-rolling high chair). I remember the first time my oldest son decided to make eggs for the family. “I make eggs!” I tried to beat the little squirt to the fridge, but the 3-year old had broken a dozen eggs on the kitchen floor before I could stop him. He beamed with pride. While I always had kids open cans, dice veggies, and stir pots of delicious foods, my husband is truly the brilliance behind teaching my sons how to run a kitchen. Kids love to help in the kitchen. All five of our sons can cook to some degree or another. We even have their favorite “fails”- like chili. … Read More »