This is a very thoughtful and well-planned book that provides a clear path to help your child achieve independence in the kitchen with confidence. I've seen in my own son the desire to be helpful and the pride he has when he's allowed to do these tasks for himself. I found Cotner and D'Alton's suggestions useful and easy-to-implement and they've inspired me to take the time to allow my son to help more in the kitchen. And it does take time. These are not things to try when you're scrambling to get dinner on the table. These are activities to share with your child when you have the time to give him/her your full attention.
It should be noted that the recipes here are directed towards the kids. In this book you will not find meals that your children can help prepare for dinner. What you will find are simple, familiar snacks that are likely already in your menu rotation. The value that the authors add is to break each recipe down into individual steps with accompanying photographs that your child can follow on his/her own, thus helping to foster the independence you're teaching along with the basic skills.
The goal of the authors is to help you help your child. To that end, all proceeds from this book will go to Montessori for All, whose goal is to "help all children gain access to an excellent education by opening and leading high-performing, authentic, public Montessori charter schools in diverse communities across the country." If you're unfamiliar with Montessori philosophy, this book provides a tangible introduction that you can easily wrap your mind around and begin to practice immediately. If you're already a Montessori convert, this is wonderful guide that will help you engage with the principles in your daily life. Either way, it will get you in the kitchen with your kids, which is always a good thing.
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