The Kitchen Answers the Call · the skool CLASSIFIEDS

Mary Nunaley

🔥

9h • Communities

The Kitchen Answers the Call

True confession, I’ve been neglecting the kitchen.

Partly because Mr. Science (yes, that’s really how I refer to my partner Ken) has been in Chicago for a month.

Mostly because I’ve been… let’s call it “efficiently unmotivated.”

But today, it’s time to fix it!

If screens are winning in your home because they’re easy and immersive, then the kitchen is your new secret weapon. It has rhythm. It has purpose. It smells good. And it turns “I’m bored” into “What can I do?”

No big lesson.

Just this: While you’re prepping a meal or snack, say, “Come hang out with me.”

That’s it. Invite the kids into the rhythm.

Then give them a role:

🥔 Littles (3–5):

A bowl of water and a whisk. Let them “scrub” potatoes. Stir. Splash. It’s sensory play that feels like real work.

🥗 Middles (6–9):

Appoint them Official Taster or Salad Architect. Let them choose toppings. Arrange colors. Adjust seasoning. Ownership changes everything.

🎙️ Older kids (10+):

Kitchen DJ. They control the playlist and the vibe while you both prep. (You might learn something about their music… brace yourself.) Side note, my my son was a teen he greatly expanded my music horizons so be open.

The magic isn’t in the recipe.

It’s in the side-by-side.

This is Day 3 of a 7-day series inside Connected Through Play where we are looking at easy ways to ease the screen struggle through communication, cooking, and play.

If your house has been hearing “there’s nothing to do,” mantra lately, this might be your bridge.

What role would your child choose in your kitchen?

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