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Including Children in Meal Times: Kitchen Duty Training

I decided that all of my children from the youngest to the oldest should participate in meal preparation and cleanup. If a child was not busy with a particular task, then they were to entertain the baby. I created a Kitchen Duty Chart to keep track of who was responsible for what task for each meal. Now instead of handing out jobs, I just remind my children at every meal, and several times before and after, to check the Kitchen Duty Chart to see what job they should be doing.

Additionally, I created Task Sheets showing how to do particular jobs such as Setting and Clearing the Table and Loading the Dishwasher since these were multi-step jobs requiring a little more thought.

Here are the tasks included on the Kitchen Duty Chart:

• Meal preparation
• Set table
• Clear table
• Load dishwasher
• Put food away
• Wipe counters
• Vacuum kitchen floor

Meal Preparation:

Three of my children are assigned meal preparation each day. My 8-year-old daughter is assigned Meal Preparation at breakfast. This often means that she makes breakfast for everyone when we have simple breakfasts such as bagels and cream cheese, cold cereal and milk, and can even make scrambled eggs with oversight from an adult.

At lunch, my 7-year-old son can put mayonnaise on the bread as I make sandwiches, put chips or carrots on the plates, or make peanut butter and graham crackers.

For dinner, I have assigned my 4-year-old son to this job. He loves to "make the salad" by pouring a bag of salad into a bowl, help me make salad dressing using the small hand blender while I hold onto it for him (he pushes the button), and other simple tasks.

Set Table

I created a Task Sheet for this job including these steps:

1. plates on table
2. fold napkins
3. place fork on napkin to left of plate
4. place knife and spoon to right of plate
5. drink at top right of plate

I drew a picture of a place setting so the younger children had a visual image of what I wanted. I do have to say that my 7-year-old has the hardest time following the steps on the Task Sheets. He can't seem to follow 1., 2., 3., etc. The idea of the Task Sheets is to teach the steps to each job so they become habit. So far after a couple of months, my boys are not catching on very well. Maybe they need more motivation. I will keep working on this one.

Clear Table

1. Scrape all plates (into trash or compost bowl)
2. stack plates beside sink
3. place flatware in cup beside sink (to soak)
4. put away all condiments
5. throw away napkins
6. place mugs/cups beside sink
7. wipe table with wet washcloth
8. rinse washcloth in hot water and wring out
9. push in all chairs

Load Dishwasher

1. Rinse all dishes and flatware before loading
2. do not leave the water running
3. Top rack: plastic bowls, cups and cooking utensils
4. Bottom rack: plates, bowls and flatware
5. Let Mom or Dad know when loading is done to start dishwasher

I usually put the food away at this point. When the children get a little older they will take on this task.

Wipe counters

I taught my children how to rinse the washcloth with warm water, wring it out and then wipe crumbs into their hands. They must be taught to pick up items on the counter. Every day I try to do this task myself at least once so it is done more thoroughly and to wipe under appliances.

Vacuum floor

I purchased a ShopVac All-Around because I only have an upright vacuum cleaner. This All-Around is perfect for my 4yo to use to vacuum the kitchen floor, so that is a job he does every morning after breakfast, at least in theory.

I hope this helps you teach your children how to be helpful servants in the kitchen. God bless, and good eating!

I have provided samples of the Kitchen Duty Chart I created as well as the Microsoft Excel file itself so that you can personalize the chart for your children. They are available for personal home use only.

• Sample of Kitchen Duty Chart
  Chart with typical kitchen jobs for 3 meals. Meant to be used in conjunction with Daily Routine above.
• Kitchen Duty Chart - html version
  Kitchen duty chart that you personalize by writing children's names in blanks provided.
• Kitchen Duty Chart - Excel file
  Kitchen duty chart that you personalize using Microsoft Excel. Put child's name in blanks provided.

You can download these and other Free Resources for personal use only.

Michele Haynes, who was diagnosed ADHD-Inattentive Type in 1998, is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mother of six who enjoys part-time web development, quiltmaking and reading. Her husband, a consulting engineer, was also diagnosed with ADHD.

©Copyright 2006 by ADHD of the Christian Kind.