Many of you are already doing it– we’re seeing marked increases in the interest in and attendance at our Kids’ Sessions. We’re also noticing more parents bringing their kids to regular sessions.
(A quick reminder of the “rules” for “Little Dishers”– As a general rule, kids need to be at least 8 years old to dish. It’s important that they be able to follow food safety rules, reach the ingredients, and comport themselves well so as to ensure a good experience for other dishers. And finally, kids need to stay with their parents while dishing. The same rules about bringing a friend apply to kids– max of one extra person per order and the pair needs to stay together while dishing.)
I’ve been dishing with my daughters almost monthly. It’s normally a “Daddy activity” so we trade off each month. But sometimes my wife comes, too, and we place two orders and take both girls. The girls really love it. It’s always fun to work with food. We talk about nutrition and food safety. We work on math (and especially fractions) while doing the measurements. They interact with the staff and with other kids. They take great pride in writing their names on the finished meals. And then, perhaps the best part, when we get home and eat the meals (see pic!), they take such pride in having prepared the meals that they eat more of them, and try virtually everything! (OK, maybe I lied a bit– THEIR favorite part is the warm scones and the chocolate milk they get during breaks…)
As a father of girls, I’m cherishing this time while they are young. As they get a bit older, I fear they won’t want to hang out with Dad as much. Though hope remains– there are a couple dads I see semi-regularly dishing with their teenage daughters. They don’t talk quite as much as they probably used to, but they work together, side by side, usually smiling, and I can sense the warmth between them. I like that dishing can be a way for them to further their relationship. I hope that will be me in a few years.
And I hope it can be you, too. I look forward to seeing you and your kids at a Let’s Dish! session soon.
