Little Learners: Food

This week we are celebrating different kinds of food and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Join us for a tasty, fun time!

#READ: Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen

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Hot pot, hot pot! Hits the right spot!
What's for dinner? A Taiwanese American child brings his diverse neighbors together to make a tasty communal meal. Together, they cook up a steaming family dinner that celebrates community, cooperation, and culture. Includes a family recipe for hot pot!

Increase pre-literacy skills as you read together:

As you read together, run your finger under each word to draw your little one's attention to the words on the page.
When you reach the lines that begin with "Hot pot, hot pot," repeat the line together as a chant.
On the page where the man is juggling the greens he grew, ask if your child can name or point to any of them to identify them. Give clues about ones they might not know or need help with.
After reading, tell your little one some of the suggested hot pot ingredients from the recipe in the back of the book. Ask them what foods they might like to eat in a hot pot!

READ

#SING: Ten Little Vegetables

(Tune: We're Going to Kentucky)

I have ten little vegetables
And they all taste yummy to me.
They grow everywhere,
Would you like to see?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!
We can pick them from up high,
We can pick them from down low,
We can chop them up and put them in a pot
And cook them nice and slow.

#EXPLORE: Banana Playdough

Materials:

½ cup ripe or overripe banana, mashed
½ cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
2 ¼ cups flour
¾ cup cornstarch
2 bowls
Airtight container

Instructions:

Allow your little one to assist you as much as possible.
In one bowl, ½ cup mashed banana, ½ cup water, and ½ cup vegetable oil until well combined.
In the other bowl, mix 2 ¼ cups flour and ¾ cup cornstarch until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients (flour and cornstarch) to the wet ingredients (mashed banana, water, and vegetable oil). Knead the mixture together until the dough is fluffy and smooth and you can no longer feel bits of banana.
This dough is taste-safe but will expire after a few days. Store it in a refrigerator in an airtight container and check it for signs of spoilage before playing again.

Play Ideas:

Manipulate the dough with your hands. Talk about how it feels, smells, and looks.
Mold the dough into shapes.
Use playdough toys, child-safe baking tools, or cookie cutters.

For more activities like this one, check out 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids by Asia Citro.