Yummy Cheese Play
Children explore edible cheesy dough and then eat it with crackers.
Children explore edible cheesy dough and then eat it with crackers.
What you'll need
- plain cream cheese
- shredded cheddar cheese
- wax paper
- crackers
- small cookie cutters
Step by step
Step 1
Have fun with some edible cheesy dough! Mix together 8 ounces of plain cream cheese and 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese. Refrigerate until you are ready to use it.
Step 2
Have the children wash their hands.
Step 3
Offer each child a small ball of the cold cheese mixture on a piece of wax paper. Encourage the children to explore. They can pat, poke, squeeze, pound, or manipulate the cheese mixture in other ways. How does it feel? How does it smell? Is it hot or cold?
Step 4
As the children explore, be sure to mention that cheese comes from milk, and milk comes from cows.
Step 5
When the children tire of playing, offer crackers. They can pinch off pieces of the dough, place them on the crackers, and eat. Another option is to pat out the dough, cut it with small cookie cutters, and then eat the shapes. Talk with children about how the cheese tastes.
More ideas
CAUTION: Always check for allergies before serving foods. Talk with families to learn the schedule each child's doctor recommends for introducing new foods.
Older Toddlers: Help children shape the dough into "snakes" and bend them to form the first letters of their names.
Learning outcomes
Physical Development and Health
Physical Health, Growth
Begins eating purees and solid foods with interest
Enjoys preferred foods, tries some new foods; consumes finger foods independently
Tries and consumes a variety of nutritious foods with prompting; chooses from healthy foods; knows some foods are better than others for our bodies
Physical Development and Health
Fine Motor Development
Uses hands or feet to make contact with mouth, objects, or people, eventually using hands to grasp small objects between thumb and fingertips; transfers objects from one hand to another; claps
Uses both hands to hold and manipulate objects (holds block and adds another block to top)
Uses more refined hand and wrist movements (scribbles, stacks blocks, turns pages)
Uses different actions on objects (kicks, pats, swipes, shakes); explores food with hands and fingers; coordinates sucking/chewing and swallowing, eventually grasping easy-to-handle foods
Coordinates hand and eye movements and controls small muscles when doing simple tasks (uses tools for feeding, hammers pegs, uses large crayons for scribbling); uses fingers and hands to grasp and eat finger foods and drink from cups; uses tools for feeding; drinks with a straw
Uses hands and eyes together to complete tasks requiring a moderate amount of control (completes three or four piece puzzles, thread beads with large holes, uses shape sorter)
Physical Development and Health
Safety Awareness and Self-Care
Responds well when physical needs are met (diaper changes, feedings, nose care)
Accepts and is more involved with physical care routines (toothbrushing, nose wiping, diapering, handwashing, dressing, etc.)
Shows self-care development in physical care routines (assisting with toothbrushing, handwashing, dressing, diapering/toileting, nose wiping, covering mouth when coughing/sneezing, etc.)
Approaches to Learning
Curiosity, Initiative, and Risk-Taking
Uses senses to explore immediate environment
Exhibits interest, curiosity, and eagerness in exploring the world in sight of an adult; becomes increasingly aware of colors, shapes, patterns, or pictures
Asks questions, seeks adult approval, and tries new activities with adult prompting
Science
Observation and Inquiry
Explores objects and world through all five senses (touches and brings objects to mouth, focuses attention on people or objects).
Uses senses to explore and manipulate objects to observe how things work; varies behaviors to observe results.
Uses senses to explore; shares what is seen, heard, and touched; makes simple predictions based on previous experiences; observes the effects of their actions on others.
Language/Literacy
Foundational Reading
Begins to recognize and understand that pictures or symbols can be "read" by others and have meaning; begins to develop alphabetic awareness