Fun Freetime: Make a Family Cookbook

This activity provided by education.com, where you can find a variety of resources for kids of all ages.


If your child enjoys a favorite family recipe at a holiday or other family gathering, this project is the perfect way to compile those recipes and get your child to appreciate how recipes are passed down through generations. He'll learn more how much food is intertwined in our personal history, and it's a perfect opportunity to practice his reading and writing skills!

What You Need:

• Paper
• Markers
• Photos
• Copies of recipes
• Three-hole punch
• 3-prong folders

What You Do:

1. Explain how it's important to have recipes written down so that they do not get lost throughout the years.
2. Brainstorm with your child about his favorite family recipes and make a list. If he's comfortable, have him write the list himself.
3. Then help your child contact family members and get copies of the recipes to include in your cookbook. If the recipe is from a cookbook, have him find out the title of the cookbook.
4. If there is a story associated with a recipe, have your child write it down, such as how Grandma makes a certain dish every Christmas.
5. Help your child write down each recipe on a piece of paper.
6. Then, have him illustrate the food and include a picture of the person whose recipe it was. Don't forget to include the memories or stories about the recipe!
7. Once the recipes are all written out, get out the three-prong folder and have your child decorate the front. Some ideas are drawing a picture of the family, or pasting a photo of the family to the cover. Let your child be as creative as he wants.
8. When the cover is finished, compile the recipes together. Then use the three-hole punch on each page.
9. Then, open up the prongs and fasten the pages into the folder.
10. If you wish, you can make copies of the pages and cover, and compile them for other family members.