Baking “More Than Meets the Eye” (Ages 3-8)
Today your children will learn mathematics, decision making, direction following, task distribution, and gratification delay. For 10 points, which activity will they be participating in?
A. First day in the Corporate World
B. First day in the Armed Services
C. First day at the University
D. Baking
If you chose A, B, or C, you might have been right, except your child is only five years old. So how about D?
What appears to be only a labor-intensive task of messiness, tedium, and frazzled nerves, also packs a punch when it comes to indirect learning. Here’s a sampling of the curriculum:
DECISION MAKING: Cake, cookies, or brownies (OK, brownies it is) * Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, or Duncan Hines * Frosted, nuts, or “original” recipe * Fudge-like, cake-like, no-cholesterol, or extra-thick * Metal, plastic, or glass bowl * Deep, wide, or large bowl * Plastic, metal, or wooden spoon * Round, square, or rectangular pan . . . (“Enough already, we get the idea!”)
MATHEMATICS: Temperature (350 degrees) * Time (24-26 minutes baking; 20 minutes cooling) * Volume (1/4 cup water; 1/2 cup oil) * Area (pan 13×9x2) * High-altitude cooking (3,500-6,500 feet) * Weight (2 grams of fat; 28 grams of carbohydrate) * Percent of daily value (2% Niacin; 13% fat) * Whole numbers (50 strokes) * Monetary ($1.19/box)
DIRECTION FOLLOWING: (If you don’t think it is necessary to follow directions, just try to grease the pan AFTER pouring in the ingredients!)
TASK DISTRIBUTION: (Between siblings or between parent and child) * Getting the ingredients or putting them away * Measuring out or pouring in * Stirring bowl or pouring into pan * Greasing pan or washing pan * Setting timer or putting in oven * Taste testing batter or licking the bowl * Cleaning counter or utensils * If dissatisfied with the results: One does the dialing to the toll free number, and the other talks.
GRATIFICATION DELAY: Does switching on the oven light speed up baking? F Does opening the oven numerous times shorten baking time? * Does eating up the raw batter make for more of the finished product? * Does blowing on the finished brownies speed up cooling time? You get the idea.
It probably goes without saying, that if one of your vivid childhood memories is of kitchen warmth and aromas, while baking and bonding with Mom, then chances are you succeeded in any or all of A, B, and C.
Rex Bowlby is the father of two boys. He is the author of the book, Why Would I Want the Toy, When I Can Have the Box? (101 Ways to Make the Most of Your Children, With the Least from Your Wallet*) *For parents with children ages 3-8. He lives in Los Angeles, California, USA.