Cooking and Food Preparation

To develop tool use, hand strength, and self-care skills through food preparation activities.

• Framework: EYFS
• Unit: EYFS Physical Development
• Learning area: Physical Development
• Level: EYFS 3-4

Objectives

• Uses child-safe knife with control
• Stirs and mixes ingredients
• Follows visual recipe steps
• Shows increasing food preparation independence

Materials

• Child-safe knives
• Chopping boards
• Mixing bowls and spoons
• Simple recipe cards with images
• Ingredients

Instructions

TEACHING SAFE KNIFE USE: 'The claw grip — curl your fingers like a claw to hold the food. The knife hand cuts slowly.' Demonstrate repeatedly.

GRADING DIFFICULTY: Start with soft foods (banana, strawberry) progressing to firmer (apple, carrot). Blunt knives for soft foods, serrated for harder.

INVOLVING IN EVERY STEP: Washing vegetables, peeling carrots, mixing batter, kneading dough — each action develops different motor skills.

FOLLOWING VISUAL RECIPES: Picture recipes support independence. 'What do we need next? Look at the recipe card!'

More from EYFS Physical Development

• Parachute Games
• Handwriting Readiness — Letter Shapes in Sand
• Obstacle Course — Advanced
• Using Tweezers and Tongs
• Swimming Pool Movement
• Name Writing Practice
• Bat and Ball Skills
• Sewing Cards and Simple Stitching