how can you adapt cooking activities for children with special needs?

Answer 1

find cookbooks with simple recipes and simple instructions...things like "first cookbooks" which explain everything (the difference between a teaspoon and tablespoon, for example) would be quite helpful. Check the children's department at your local public library for books like that.

Answer 2

I love this question! Cooking is a wonderful activity for any child, but especially for one with special needs. It teaches reading, math (fractions), following directions, and sequencing in an enjoyable format. It would be easier to give you a helpful answer if you gave more information about the type of special needs. Here are some very general suggestions:
1.Read through the recipe with the child first, to discuss the language. Are there any words that the child doesn't know? If so, define the meanings. Ask sequencing questions: "What do we do first?" "What do we do next?" "Then what happens?"
2. Remind/assist the child to wash hands.
3. Ask the child what tools are needed to prepare the recipe, and gather these. (measuring cups, bowl, etc.)
4. Ask the child what ingredients are needed, and gather these.
5. Work slowly and methodically, one small step at a time.
Be patient...enjoy! You might want to consider making a story out of a cooking project. We did this when our son was young, and it made a great show-and-tell project. We took pictures of every step, and wrote a simple sentence to describe each picture. We used this book to reinforce everything he learned about cooking. He is 16 now, and loves to cook! I hope this helps.
Sher

Answer 3

well if it was me I would have all the ingredients laid out and measured for this person and If they have a reading problem I would tape it so they could hear and understand what they had to do then if they had a hearing problem Id write it very plain directions so it could be understood better. I would scout around at the local book store and get books with last minute recipe's in them because they are generally the easiest ones to make. I would go with an electric skillet and microwave meals so as to cut down on them getting burned or hurt.you have so many ways you could go here I wish you had given us a Little more to work with adapt is a broad subject and it can be looked at in several different ways I'm sorry I hope this helped but if not contact your local nursery schools and ask them what they do to teach the kids to cook at school.

Answer 4

In agreeing with one of the other people, visual pictures for the child is a plus. My son is autistic and we use "Board Maker" or "Writing with Symbols" software. You can cater to the activity by applying the pictures, step by step, underneath the directions. Writing with symbols actually has a sentance maker that will write out the whole sentance with the icons above it. It is great. Or as suggested, photos, labels or cut outs from magazines may help. Or you can write a social story about it all and have the child prepare before hand (expectations are clear) and then apply it with the story as you cook. As with many special needs kids, my son is a VISUAL learner. This can be applied to any social situation, going to the park , brushing teeth, getting dresssed. We have done hundreds of them.

Answer 5

i teach children with special needs and cooking is a valuable life lesson. we use pictures and symbols to help pupils follow the recipe or instructions - these can be printed from special computer programmes or use the labels from the packets and wrappers of the foods you will be cooking. start with simple recipes like cakes and you can build up gradually. we make lots of toast to help with making choices about spreads they would like on top and the physical action of spreading, mixing ingredients and spooning out are fairly easy task for most pupils even if you have to help pupils using your hand over theirs. our senior pupils are now at the stage where they can plan a meal, identify the ingredients they need at the shops and, with help, buy them. they make their own lunches once a week and we all love it.