Cooking With Children With Special Needs

As you are cooking with children with special needs, remember that each child is their own strengths and weakness. Adapting an cooking activity on their level may be needed so children with disabilities  can build confidence. (REF 2)

REMEMBER that children CAN have allergies. You will need to adapt to them and replace with with something else. An example of this would be to have gluten free tortillas if making quesadillas.  

Ways to adapt: (REF 2 pg 22-23)

• Include tasks at the child's ability level.
• If a child with special needs is having a hard time with smaller spoons, the child could stir ingredients together with bigger spoons. 
• Encourage child to try new tasks.
• Give partial assistants if needed 
• Promote working together.
• Help children interact.
• Child my need prompts to smile,  look at peers, and say, "can I have a turn." 
• Remind others to include the child. 
• Child CAN do things on own
• Children with learning delays.
• Most children will have language delays. Be patient and supportive. Repeat phrases.
• Children with visual disabilities. 
• Use bigger containers instead of measuring cups. 
• Feel ingredients containers they come in
• Feel ingredients as you poor into a bowl so can feel more or less. 
• Children with hearing loss.
• Provided limited number of  materials and help children share the materials.
• A child with physical disabilities.
• Encourage children to practice using materials before using them in a cooking activity. 
• Children with behavior disabilities.
• Aggression
• Small groups
• Each child gets own utensils
• Rules of behavior very clear
•   Hyperactive 
• Encourage them to stick with it
• Withdrawn
• Tell them what they can do to help.