We're in the Dough!
Baking bread can be a serene, contemplative process. But, in houses with kids, it usually isn't! Find out how making and baking bread can be an educational and fun experience for you and the kids.
A treat for the senses
I began baking bread with my daughter as soon as she could stand
on a stool. I thought I was being "educational." Little did I
know, I was the one receiving the education. It is fascinating to
watch a child's reaction to the bread-baking process. They
crinkle their noses at the yeasty smells while stirring the
ingredients, marvel at the transformation from liquid to dough.
But the coup de gras is kneading - the feel of the dough as they
bury their hands in it and the taste as their little fingers find
their mouths. A total sensory experience!One of the best things
about baking bread is how long it takes. Bread-baking is a
process, a project. None of the steps are difficult or take very
long. In fact, only 30 to 45 minutes of activity is needed, but
that activity is spread over several hours. And it is those hours
that make all the difference! During that time, you and your
children will have shared wonder and laughter, developed a common
sense of purpose and fun, anticipated the magic of transformation
and reveled in a sense of accomplishment.
Getting started: Bread-baking for kids (and parents
too!)
Plan for a mess: No tippy-toeing around this one. Bread baking is
messy. We clear off and scrub down the dining room table (a
better height for my little ones to knead the dough) and keep the
vacuum cleaner standing at the ready.
Dress for the occasion: There is nothing much cuter than a two-year old wearing his mother's apron! My kids and I each have our designated aprons for bread-baking. If I forget to put mine on, they are sure to remind me. Somehow the simple act of wearing aprons gives us a sense of camaraderie and togetherness.
Everyone needs a spoon: Mixing up the ingredients probably has the most potential for conflict for kids. Arguments can start over whose turn it is to pour or stir (the two-year old still believes every turn is his turn). We sing songs to distract, keep strict accounting of turns and we each have our own spoons.
We all knead a little love: This is when high hilarity (and boundless mess!) comes into play. We divide our dough into three pieces, set the timer and go to it! To ensure that the dough actually gets enough kneading, when kids don't quite have the strength or desire to sustain kneading for 10 minutes, we make it a game, swapping pieces every couple minutes. I also encourage them to punch, throw (ON the table please!) and stretch the dough. A great thing about bread dough is its forgiving nature. Knead it from five minutes to 20, and it will still turn into bread. Yummy bread!
Putting the dough to bed: My kids seem to really take to the idea of nap time for the dough. We cover the dough carefully with two towels (Hey, two kids, two towels. I've learned not to argue this point.) and set the timer. We shush each other, giggling, out of the kitchen, to let the dough sleep while we clean up a bit. If I time things right, the kids take their naps along with the bread dough and wake early enough to punch it down for the next rise. They are amazed every time at how it grows!
The shaping of things to come: My children are particularly fond of rolling out "snakes" for braided loaves. They also like to free-form shapes: animals, letters, numbers, whatever they think of. And though, after rising and baking, the shapes are not always recognizable, they are always tasty.
Revealing the magic: Probably the biggest thrill for all of us is taking the bread out of the oven. As the smells of baking bread waft through the house, the kids congregate in the kitchen, waiting for that magic moment - the dough has become bread! No point in explaining the chemistry of bread-baking. They wouldn't believe it anyway. They know it is magic. Heck, I understand the chemistry, and it still looks like magic to me.
What's holding you back?
Perhaps you understand that baking bread with kids can be a
joyful experience, but have your reasons for not pursuing it.
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Member Comments On...
We're in the Dough!
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