Dinner prep, can be fun, especially if everyone has a job! It also helps children work through anxiety, engage in family role playing and helps with confidence and skill building. Following recipes teaches children how to be self-directed and also how to problem solve. Combining cooking and language arts is a natural coalition. It's fun to read a story that goes with what you are cooking. Feed the mind and feed the body at the same time! Read the real book, or get the books on: UTube, Google PlayBooks, Applebooks or audiobooks.com and there are SO many to pick from, for example:
The Carrot Seed Ruth Krauss (ages PreK-K)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle (ages PreK-K)
Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss (ages 4-8)
Blueberries For Sal Robert McCloskey (ages 3-6)
If You Give A Mouse A Brownie Laura Numeroff (ages 2-6)
Dragons Love Tacos Adam Rubin (ages 3-6)
Today Is Monday Eric Carle (ages 1-6)
Pancakes, Pancakes Eric Carle (ages PreK-1)
I Eat Vegetables (and I Eat Fruit) Hannah Tofts (ages 1-5)
Walter The Baker Eric Carle (ages 3-7)
Bee-Bim Bop! Linda Sue Park (ages PreK-1)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Judith Barett (ages 4-8)
Bread and Jam for Frances Russell Hoban (ages 4-8)
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza Philemon Sturges (ages PreK-1))
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A-Z Lois Ehlert (ages PreK-K)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl (ages 8-12)
Stone Soup Jon Multh (ages(3-8)
Dough Knights and Dragons Dee Leone (ages 4-8)
Feast For 10 Cathryn Falwell (PreK-K)
Pop Pop and Me and a Recipe Irene Smalls (PreK-K)
Little Pea Amy Krouse Rosenthal (PreK-K)
Pizza Day Melissa Iwai (ages PreK-1)
Yoko Rosemary Wells (ages PreK-1)
Foodtruck Fest! Alexandra Penfold (ages PreK-2)
I Will Never Not Eat a Tomato Lauren Child (ages PreK-2)
Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament Anne Renaud(agesK-3)
Maddi's Fridge Lois Brandt (ages K-3)
How To Feed Your Parents Ryan Miller (ages K-3)
Mission Defrostable (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast) Josh Funk (ages K-3)
A Long Line of Cakes Deborah Wiles (ages 4-6)
Julia, Child Eye Maclear (ages 3 and up)
Jamberry Bruce Degan (ages Prek-K)
Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (ages 3-8)
Should I Share My Ice Cream? Mo Willems (ages PreK-K)
Llama Llama Yum Yum! Anna Dewdney (ages PreK-K)
And do a random act of kindness: write a note to the garbage men and or postmen thanking them for staying on the job for all of us!