Kindergarten readiness learning and fun sometimes needs a snack; here is a super idea for a valentine snack for kids that they can eat anywhere and anytime. It’s no-cook cooking with kids. In the cupboard, look for small, finger food items such as puffed wheat or rice, Cheerios, fishy crackers, craisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, Shreddies, pretzels, and other little things that your child can safely eat. Some kids like a bit of left-over popcorn. Dried fruits and nuts are also options. (Since this is a Valentine snack, you could add a few pink or red Smarties.) Together, you and your child can put a small amount of each into a dish.
Talk about such things as colors and shapes. Shreddies are squares, what shape are the Cheerios? Are there any other circle shapes? For the larger bits, your child may be able to count some of them or you can count together. Do these things all feel the same? Do any of them have a smell? And how do they taste? Oh, oh…some of them make a crunching noise when they get stepped on.
This snack attack has learning ingredients along with the yummies. Besides the counting, shapes, and colors, there’s been stimulation for all 5 senses. While some of the items have less nutritional value than others, at least there are a few good ones like the seeds. Little hands and fingers get some small muscle exercise pinching and picking up the snack pieces. (Big fingers changed an orange m&m to red.)
Some containers have openings in the lid just the right size for fingers, so you can take this while on the go. Learning ingredients, fun, and a chance to play with food! Will your child like this Valentine snack?