SC - children in the kitchen

[Julia Robertson]

Having 4 children myself, aged 10 (twins) 7 and not quite 4. I find that in 
general finding a way to do most A&S activites for children can be a lot of 
fun. We have the boys and the girls doing embroidery, cooking, dyeing and a 
heap of other stuff.

All it takes is a little bit of forward thinking and then simplifying and 
all goes well. eg embroidery the older kids use embroidery hoops etc just 
like the adults and the younger ones use coarse fabric, woll and an old 
blunt tapestry needle. We stretch the fabric out over an old masking tape 
reel and hold it down with an elastic band... easy.

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rhonda & Chuck Leggett
>To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
>Sent: 10/18/00 4:02 PM
>Subject: SC - children in the kitchen
>
>Greetings,
>         I have been following the posts regarding kids helping in the
>kitchen at events. I have 4 daughters ages 18mos, to 9 yrs. The older
>three
>are always eager to find a way to help at events. They regularly do
>water-bearing ( the 9 yr old did3 consecutive hours last Gulf Wars)
>and serve beverages at events. The system they use is for the 5 year old
>to
>ask if anyone would like a beverage then guide the older kids with the
>pitchers to the tables where needed. The younger one also serves seconds
>on
>breads and such. They also manage to find things to do in the kitchen.
>The
>older ones (7 & 9) stir pots, mix lemonade, run errands around the site,
>and
>prepare trays of bread, cheese, and butter for serving. The younger (5)
>empties garbage bags and fetches ingredients from the ice chest,
>organizes
>serving platters, etc. The girls also help with kitchen clean up by
>checking
>the tables for remaining trays and platters after the feast and drying
>the
>dishes.  These girls have done these chores of their own free will. It
>was
>actually their idea to begin helping. They started helping me with
>kitchen
>clean up when the oldest was 6. They now work in the kitchen whether or
>not
>I am there and even work at events outside our Barony.
>        There really isn't much for kids under 18 to do  in the SCA other
>than children's activities at events and my girls quickly become bored
>with
>that. They have learned several A&S projects and enter every competition
>they attend.They took the time to find for themselves things to keep
>busy
>and be able to participate in the game. They have also found other ways
>to
>help. My oldest is a page and my 5 and 7 yaer olds are ladies-in-waiting
>to
>Baronesses. I think if everyone would take only a moment of time to
>think
>there can be many things found to help children learn to be productive
>members of theSCA. The early lessons last the longest.
>
>Lady Tabitha Baker
>
>
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