Young Children’s Experimental Cookery

Young Children?s Experimental Cookery encourages Early Years practitioners and teachers to take an innovative and creative approach to introducing young children to food and cooking. The book addresses wider issues such as healthy eating and food preparation skills, but also moves beyond the concept of traditional cookery lessons to celebrate food as a creative medium, offering immense scope for multi-sensory exploration and a variety of high quality learning experiences.

Practitioners are encouraged to abandon recipes, take a step back, and afford children the freedom to chop, mix, stir and concoct their own creations, exploring fresh ingredients and experimenting with new tastes and smells along the way. Bridging the gap between food preparation and the development of confidence, imagination and creative-thinking skills, this open-ended approach to cooking sessions will equip children with skills which go far beyond those needed in the kitchen.

Featuring full-colour photographs throughout, as well as detailed case studies and practical tips for various seasons and food groups, this accessible and exciting resource is ideal for practitioners, teachers, parents and budding chefs! Every school and Early Years setting should have at least one copy in their staff room.

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction2. Food, Cooking and Creative Thinking3. Young Children’s Experimental Cookery4. Vegetables5. Fruit – Fresh and Frozen6. Herbs and Spices7. Equipment8. Food session with the Under Threes9. The Role of the Adult10. Inclusion11. Cultural Influences12. Parents as Partner13. A Guide to Starting a Creative Food Project14. How the Project Has Influenced Our Practice?References and Suggested Reading

Elizabeth Carruthers is Head Teacher of Redcliffe Nursery School, Children’s Centre and National Teaching School, Bristol, UK. She is a National Leader of Education, an education writer and author of several best-selling books. In 2014, she received the ‘Local Food Hero Award’ at the BBC Food and Farming Awards.

Carole Keane is an Assistant Head at Redcliffe Nursery School, Children’s Centre and National Teaching School, Bristol, UK. She is a Specialist Leader of Education for children under three.

Jo Ingleby is chef and food project coordinator at Redcliffe Nursery School, Children’s Centre and National Teaching School, Bristol, UK. In 2015, Jo was selected as the ‘BBC Cook of the Year’ in the Food and Farming Awards.