Recommended Age: 2.5y+
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mostly preparation and modelling
Prerequisites
- Can follow instructions and copy what is modelled
Materials
- A banana
- A child-safe knife (e.g. a spreader, a Kiddikutter children’s knife, a butter knife)
- A small chopping-board
- A bowl for the peel
- A small plate for the banana
Steps
- Explain to the child that when we prepare food we need to wash our hands first – model how to wash your hands and invite the child to do the same.
- Place the banana on the chopping–board with the stalk-end on the right (or on the left if the child is left-handed).
- Pick up the knife in your right hand, show the child the teeth of the knife, explain that they are sharp and that we do not touch them.
- Hold the banana steady on the chopping-board with your left hand and partially cut through the stalk-end of the banana. Put the knife down and start to peel the banana. Pull two pieces of peel off the banana placing it in the bowl, invite the child to finish peeling the banana.
- Lay the banana on the chopping board. Pick up the knife in your right hand and hold the banana steady on the chopping-board with your left hand. Cut three bite sized pieces from the banana and invite the child to finish slicing the banana. Ask the child to put the knife down.
- Show the child how to pick up the slices of banana from the chopping-board and place them on the plate. Invite the child to finish transferring the banana slices.
- Ask the child to put the banana peel in the rubbish/compost bin.
- Show the child how to wash the chopping-board and knife in the sink, how to dry them with a tea towel and put them away.
- Invite the child to eat the banana, reminding him to get a fork if he prefers to use one.
Variations
- Use a small pair of tongs to transfer the banana from the chopping-board to the plate – model how to use the tongs for the child.
- Add a vegetable peeler to the activity and slice a cucumber or carrot – model how to peel the cucumber/carrot by keeping it on the chopping-board and peeling it away from your hand.
Examples of child-safe knives
- Spreaders
- Kiddikutter Children’s Knives
