Did you know that your toddler’s fine motor skills directly impact their cooking skills? And that completing fine motor activities can make them more successful in the kitchen?
Each cooking skill (this is a running not exhaustive list) below is broken down into it’s related fine motor skills
| Cooking Skill | Fine Motor Skills |
|---|---|
| Cutting with a knife | Arm/Hand strength Bimanual coordination: 1 hand on knife and 1 hand on fork or food itself Grading of strength: different foods require different levels of strength Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, radial grasp Tool use |
| Mashing | Arm/Hand strength Bimanual coordination: either both hands on masher or 1 on masher and 1 stabilizing bowl Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp Hand eye coordination Tool use |
| Measuring/Scooping Dry Ingredients | Arm/Hand strength Bimanual coordination: 1 hand holds measuring cup/spoon + 1 holds container Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, lateral pinch, radial grasp Hand eye coordination Tool use |
| Measuring Wet Ingredients | Bimanual coordination: 1 hand holds measuring cup/spoon + 1 pours wet ingredient Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, lateral pinch Hand eye coordination Tool use |
| Putting small food items on targeted area (ie. toppings on pizza, decorating a cake) | Grasp patterns: pincer grasp, 3 point pinch Hand eye coordination |
| Pouring Ingredients | Arm/hand strength Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, lateral pinch, radial grasp Hand eye coordination Tool use |
| Spreading | Arm/hand strength Bimanual coordination: 1 hand spreads + 1 holds food |
| Stirring | Arm/hand strength Bimanual coordination: 1 hand stirs + 1 stabilizes bowl Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, radial grasp Tool use |
| Whisking | Arm/hand strength Bimanual coordination: 1 hand stirs + 1 stabilizes bowl Grasp patterns: cylindrical grasp, radial grasp Tool use |