![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/falkirkearlyyears\/uploads\/sites\/1373\/2020\/12\/04144109\/stephencovey1-2x.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOf course there is still challenges and hurdles to overcome, however being solution focused, sharing practice and seeking support when needed is paramount in moving forward.<\/p>\n
As we move forward in the marvellous mealtime experience and \u201cThe Larder\u201d begins to provide opportunities for us to cook and bake with children, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go over a few considerations and top tips.<\/p>\n
Considerations<\/h5>\n
Baking and cooking should still be happening regularly within your setting. However, as we know, things have had to be adapted and routines altered. The following points will support you in developing baking and cooking. :<\/p>\n
- \n
- Cooking and baking should be implemented in small groups- a maximum of 3 children.<\/li>\n
- Children should have access to their own set of ingredients and tools.<\/li>\n
- Children should not prepare foods for others. Simply- they can only eat what they prepare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Have a look at some of these examples from our #FabFalkirkFolk<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glow-prod-fa.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/fa\/public\/falkirkearlyyears\/uploads\/sites\/1373\/2020\/12\/04141236\/Airth-300x294.png?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEGQaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJGMEQCIHoCidVHR1lc5O9SNW%2BfpvO4odCpAsmY6ldStT5BEzqPAiAIvIlSZYDsd0Q9XddUjz13tOCIGpwg4Xsz%2FuUqbeTmLyq5BQgsEAUaDDI3MzU3MDE5NTQzMyIMQZLVfJ4%2BVfQzG1FbKpYFejq%2FaOIN1ezf4%2F0%2FxnocvfSF0%2BtdIvyc%2FnBVZ0ArVcZBrg2YKiL8%2BBROKq81WhqgMTZq%2BQabeDjDHP8jnDO1jS%2B1vCBO1V8pDcgZBxKQrQ4dRnUokmAvikiaJz%2BelNEyEUTE8ODARxsR6YFzXWIPuDsyD6xEFFQdpAV1tyy5sSqeasgxdsIVUqxtrTj51PpUUtdfz71Es%2FDiOnYrSqX1gFv%2FK2hTUrL9k6Sie3tre4FhD%2B3VPuISFxQY1uTQDJU7nzoyQxOP%2FqKK8Nk7ljH32D%2FdzfxOPI8BzAfnlEUWDvtQW03lMVS1JKCffVboGKhMUOObxwfPDL1n0R5cA%2F51tBRbyOJvOfC6CIv%2Bv0Y2p9%2BfHWc%2BaXNvIuSp6jXgqYjXWFEqT6WpseYQ%2B08MjMEx%2BuFmiR2WJgKrgXiTuiMzmYX8AJxTY90pn6qFiy%2B6Ugq%2BNJWF3gp6XdziAzdaH2v5n5nT1cGb8BCxG%2Fpl9LUlrOQzhINEgOLcEY%2B7mIdYTtHQLLrYJPTrj4EG90IYOOsOLOvoBO3PXSg%2BDbmPK%2FT3p%2FxsXS9xHtWlagjQqezv68YPIbttZIwl3h4J%2FDrumlSYGs7O6G83Zkl7ZuNsAdl4rMouEhQ9IIBosl6uxPbhGONSka%2BF8WFJgypJ%2BCyZ6dXy1n1WX6QWjHbRAf0vTlxprF7PBkesOdGnpiUEZAf9kGE%2BXlI5IYcT25RVxUetfLHvf1Ch6AsqpvYGfY%2B5lKoS6W5lgBj3RPit%2B9B3Peh%2BD8Y23OPPIHqQFPVCJYfdX1MM4KXuwokPnFWoN3%2B%2FT1aOBQIWZE31TRZTZyKtZzo%2B2GVQ9YYaJ7Hr7IBPP95Yp8Mx0vWRylg0fzv4zHEVVPmFibERrgEkmlAw0dfd0gY6sgF9hPflhHNbjnck0tM5hsonGgib2wWYAlhz6%2FSexp9vykSiUi1RPCkfXVhZEtOLPGGlbOZyKGlYIJSq70UZCQAfixXLrAYhULMDaXDeSJV1NMTCFVoR75nrHIX6wATQACELGh0%2B9B0lWu%2FZzgAm9uuSCWC%2FtUooOzf5AqzN1%2FIw%2FaAYsqOepzd%2BGuGPdjfnpsVt2RCz%2FqFJUrWnWI2drX7ee2znO%2BWqxIjjIL7UZn%2BEzZQk&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UZXPXQUB3%2F20260715%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260715T120249Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=391f8c48f351ff437151bfa8cb8f747f5bfcd80214562ba94fce11753ade6ca3\")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glow-prod-fa.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/fa\/public\/falkirkearlyyears\/uploads\/sites\/1373\/2020\/12\/04141726\/Slam-292x300.png?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEGQaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJGMEQCIHoCidVHR1lc5O9SNW%2BfpvO4odCpAsmY6ldStT5BEzqPAiAIvIlSZYDsd0Q9XddUjz13tOCIGpwg4Xsz%2FuUqbeTmLyq5BQgsEAUaDDI3MzU3MDE5NTQzMyIMQZLVfJ4%2BVfQzG1FbKpYFejq%2FaOIN1ezf4%2F0%2FxnocvfSF0%2BtdIvyc%2FnBVZ0ArVcZBrg2YKiL8%2BBROKq81WhqgMTZq%2BQabeDjDHP8jnDO1jS%2B1vCBO1V8pDcgZBxKQrQ4dRnUokmAvikiaJz%2BelNEyEUTE8ODARxsR6YFzXWIPuDsyD6xEFFQdpAV1tyy5sSqeasgxdsIVUqxtrTj51PpUUtdfz71Es%2FDiOnYrSqX1gFv%2FK2hTUrL9k6Sie3tre4FhD%2B3VPuISFxQY1uTQDJU7nzoyQxOP%2FqKK8Nk7ljH32D%2FdzfxOPI8BzAfnlEUWDvtQW03lMVS1JKCffVboGKhMUOObxwfPDL1n0R5cA%2F51tBRbyOJvOfC6CIv%2Bv0Y2p9%2BfHWc%2BaXNvIuSp6jXgqYjXWFEqT6WpseYQ%2B08MjMEx%2BuFmiR2WJgKrgXiTuiMzmYX8AJxTY90pn6qFiy%2B6Ugq%2BNJWF3gp6XdziAzdaH2v5n5nT1cGb8BCxG%2Fpl9LUlrOQzhINEgOLcEY%2B7mIdYTtHQLLrYJPTrj4EG90IYOOsOLOvoBO3PXSg%2BDbmPK%2FT3p%2FxsXS9xHtWlagjQqezv68YPIbttZIwl3h4J%2FDrumlSYGs7O6G83Zkl7ZuNsAdl4rMouEhQ9IIBosl6uxPbhGONSka%2BF8WFJgypJ%2BCyZ6dXy1n1WX6QWjHbRAf0vTlxprF7PBkesOdGnpiUEZAf9kGE%2BXlI5IYcT25RVxUetfLHvf1Ch6AsqpvYGfY%2B5lKoS6W5lgBj3RPit%2B9B3Peh%2BD8Y23OPPIHqQFPVCJYfdX1MM4KXuwokPnFWoN3%2B%2FT1aOBQIWZE31TRZTZyKtZzo%2B2GVQ9YYaJ7Hr7IBPP95Yp8Mx0vWRylg0fzv4zHEVVPmFibERrgEkmlAw0dfd0gY6sgF9hPflhHNbjnck0tM5hsonGgib2wWYAlhz6%2FSexp9vykSiUi1RPCkfXVhZEtOLPGGlbOZyKGlYIJSq70UZCQAfixXLrAYhULMDaXDeSJV1NMTCFVoR75nrHIX6wATQACELGh0%2B9B0lWu%2FZzgAm9uuSCWC%2FtUooOzf5AqzN1%2FIw%2FaAYsqOepzd%2BGuGPdjfnpsVt2RCz%2FqFJUrWnWI2drX7ee2znO%2BWqxIjjIL7UZn%2BEzZQk&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UZXPXQUB3%2F20260715%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260715T120249Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=fd42e75d86f91cff2a102c2916a83fdeffa77c67af344d542f53b82ede1e3d33\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn each of these examples you will notice how children have their own ingredients and tools with small groups of children taking part.<\/p>\n
Marvellous Mealtimes Top Tips<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/glow-prod-fa.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/fa\/public\/falkirkearlyyears\/uploads\/sites\/1373\/2020\/12\/04142421\/getting-the-best-out-of-name-labels-300x225.jpg?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEGQaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJGMEQCIHoCidVHR1lc5O9SNW%2BfpvO4odCpAsmY6ldStT5BEzqPAiAIvIlSZYDsd0Q9XddUjz13tOCIGpwg4Xsz%2FuUqbeTmLyq5BQgsEAUaDDI3MzU3MDE5NTQzMyIMQZLVfJ4%2BVfQzG1FbKpYFejq%2FaOIN1ezf4%2F0%2FxnocvfSF0%2BtdIvyc%2FnBVZ0ArVcZBrg2YKiL8%2BBROKq81WhqgMTZq%2BQabeDjDHP8jnDO1jS%2B1vCBO1V8pDcgZBxKQrQ4dRnUokmAvikiaJz%2BelNEyEUTE8ODARxsR6YFzXWIPuDsyD6xEFFQdpAV1tyy5sSqeasgxdsIVUqxtrTj51PpUUtdfz71Es%2FDiOnYrSqX1gFv%2FK2hTUrL9k6Sie3tre4FhD%2B3VPuISFxQY1uTQDJU7nzoyQxOP%2FqKK8Nk7ljH32D%2FdzfxOPI8BzAfnlEUWDvtQW03lMVS1JKCffVboGKhMUOObxwfPDL1n0R5cA%2F51tBRbyOJvOfC6CIv%2Bv0Y2p9%2BfHWc%2BaXNvIuSp6jXgqYjXWFEqT6WpseYQ%2B08MjMEx%2BuFmiR2WJgKrgXiTuiMzmYX8AJxTY90pn6qFiy%2B6Ugq%2BNJWF3gp6XdziAzdaH2v5n5nT1cGb8BCxG%2Fpl9LUlrOQzhINEgOLcEY%2B7mIdYTtHQLLrYJPTrj4EG90IYOOsOLOvoBO3PXSg%2BDbmPK%2FT3p%2FxsXS9xHtWlagjQqezv68YPIbttZIwl3h4J%2FDrumlSYGs7O6G83Zkl7ZuNsAdl4rMouEhQ9IIBosl6uxPbhGONSka%2BF8WFJgypJ%2BCyZ6dXy1n1WX6QWjHbRAf0vTlxprF7PBkesOdGnpiUEZAf9kGE%2BXlI5IYcT25RVxUetfLHvf1Ch6AsqpvYGfY%2B5lKoS6W5lgBj3RPit%2B9B3Peh%2BD8Y23OPPIHqQFPVCJYfdX1MM4KXuwokPnFWoN3%2B%2FT1aOBQIWZE31TRZTZyKtZzo%2B2GVQ9YYaJ7Hr7IBPP95Yp8Mx0vWRylg0fzv4zHEVVPmFibERrgEkmlAw0dfd0gY6sgF9hPflhHNbjnck0tM5hsonGgib2wWYAlhz6%2FSexp9vykSiUi1RPCkfXVhZEtOLPGGlbOZyKGlYIJSq70UZCQAfixXLrAYhULMDaXDeSJV1NMTCFVoR75nrHIX6wATQACELGh0%2B9B0lWu%2FZzgAm9uuSCWC%2FtUooOzf5AqzN1%2FIw%2FaAYsqOepzd%2BGuGPdjfnpsVt2RCz%2FqFJUrWnWI2drX7ee2znO%2BWqxIjjIL7UZn%2BEzZQk&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UZXPXQUB3%2F20260715%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260715T120249Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=7b1877959d86a5c392f601b09a6e40cd0945da259394d87bbafa1e39f5b549ec\")
<\/a><\/p>\n- \n
- While a small group of children bake or group in a day it doesn’t mean that the larder can’t be used for the whole setting. For example while your wee bakers mix, measure and roll their own bread; a batch for the rest of the children can be made individually by a practitioner for everyone at snack, following the appropriate cooksafe procedures. Access the most up-to-date version of cooksafe here.<\/a><\/li>\n
- It’s important children have the right tools. These knives are sturdy and safe but do the job. If we want children to develop the skills for baking and cooking, butter knives for chopping will simply not cut it (no pun intended!). Follow the link here.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Maximizing the outdoor space is a great way of continuing the marvellous mealtimes experience. Get your wee people involved in developing their eating spaces outdoors.<\/li>\n
- Be aware of your snack time experience- are there tongs and spoons for children to use? Do children have their own knives for spreading? How long is snack available for? Do children help to plan their snack menu and choose which foods to eat?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And finally…<\/h5>\n
The Scottish Government have updated their Early Years COVID Guidance including a snack and mealtimes update. You can access this here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to continue to ensure that mealtimes are a relaxed and enjoyable time where children can socialise, while implementing practical approaches to prevent the spread and control of infection.\u201d<\/em> (Scottish Government, 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n
- It’s important children have the right tools. These knives are sturdy and safe but do the job. If we want children to develop the skills for baking and cooking, butter knives for chopping will simply not cut it (no pun intended!). Follow the link here.<\/a><\/li>\n
- While a small group of children bake or group in a day it doesn’t mean that the larder can’t be used for the whole setting. For example while your wee bakers mix, measure and roll their own bread; a batch for the rest of the children can be made individually by a practitioner for everyone at snack, following the appropriate cooksafe procedures. Access the most up-to-date version of cooksafe here.<\/a><\/li>\n