We're just back from a holiday, the sun is shining and it's all about strawberries in our house. So I thought I would share a fun thing to do with them, especially the few at the bottom of the punnet that always end up a little squishy. This is simple enough for a very young toddler to do and includes some counting, motor skill and colour fun.
My tip for summertime cooking with a toddler is to find a spot to do it outside so you can let them get as stuck in as they like without having to worry about mess. Lay out a wipe-clean mat or a tuff spot for them to sit on. On a hot day, you could even strip them down.
Lay out:
5 hulled strawberries (plus extra to make up for the inevitable few that end up in the mouth rather than the bowl), a pot of natural yoghurt, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract or teaspoon of honey (optional), 1 mixing bowl, a potato masher and 1 tablespoon.
Get toddler to:
1. Count the 5 strawberries into the bowl.
2. Squish the strawberries until mushed up. They can use a masher or even squish with hands. Or, if that sounds too messy, put the strawberries in a freezer bag and get them to squish them in the bag while you hold it shut. Then tip the contents of the bag back into the bowl.
3. Dollop about 4 heaped tablespoons of natural yoghurt onto the strawberries.
4. Mix it all up with a tablespoon and watch their face as it turns pink.
5. Optional: if you want to sweeten your home-made yoghurt, mix in the vanilla extract or honey.
Spoon into a container, cover and keep in the fridge. Or spoon into ice-lolly moulds and freeze for healthy, home-made lollies.
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