Screen Free Saturday Thoughts from Heidi - Part #4

While we have been fortunate to have nice weather to go outside for Screen – free Saturday the past two Saturdays, this past Saturday we were met with rainy weather posing “what’s fun that we can do inside without our screens?” After some thought and discussion, we decided when is a better time than to have our own mini- MasterChef bake – off competition?! In order to be fair, my husband and I agreed we had to make the same dessert but use a different recipe. We decided that Chocolate Chip cookies would be the easiest since there are only two of us and we could cut each recipe in half. Also, most of the ingredients we already had (flour, brown sugar, egg, etc.). I chose a Chocolate Chip recipe from a trusted cook – book; he chose a family recipe. While the jury remains out on whose cookie is best, it was a fun and delicious activity to do together on Screen Free – Saturday! You can replicate this bake – off competition at home by having boys and girls square off against each other or having the older sibling square off against a younger sibling in a friendly competition. There are many speech, occupational, and physical therapy skills the children can incorporate with this activity - from deciding what recipe to make, making a list of ingredients, gathering the supplies, following the directions, to mom’s favorite - clean up! During this time of social distancing, you can also have your child make a card or note to bring over to the neighbors with a plate of cookies to say “hello” and let them know you are thinking of them during this time.