Chef's Kitchen Priddy Books

Chef's Kitchen Priddy Book

 

Chef's Kitchen is a Let's Pretend book by Priddy Books. It is a six page board book with 15 pieces to play with and lots of fun search-and-find activities, especially if you're a junior chef-in-training.

The book as you see it above measures 11" x 9.75". In the image above you see the cover and in the middle of the cover there is a clear plastic window. Through the window you can see the loose pieces that are stored on the back of the cover in a plastic container. The cover lifts up to reveal an attached board book. Below is an image of pages one and two.

The story on the left hand page gives you three things to find in the picture. The five pieces on the right are loose puzzle pieces that you will match to the holes. Printed in each hole is a definition. The definition for colander is: A bowl with holes for rinsing vegetables and draining food, such as pasta. The other pieces in the book are spaghetti and meatballs, menu, sundae, juice, sandwich, pizza, cheese, tomatoes, arugula, and black pepper grinder. The pieces have a little thickness to them and stay securely in each hole once placed. The plastic container where you store the pieces snap shut tightly. The lid comes down and the end flap Velcros shut. Secure for now.
 

Try this:

• Use the book to create interest. Then have some of the real things out to work with while/after reading the story. Show how the colander works, roll out some cookie dough, or heat up some soup for lunch.
• Read the definitions before putting the pieces in, then ask the individual to give you the definitions before turning the page.
• Flip the pieces over on the table (white on back). Can the individual match the correct piece to the correct hole in the book by looking at the shapes only?
• Identify other objects in the picture before you turn the page.
• After finishing the book, make a snack together and let the individual help. Point out things in your kitchen using some of the words you learned in the book.
• Have fun using different hand tools that you see in the picture or learn about. Demonstrate and describe as you work, then let them try. Be patient and move a step at a time for beginners.
  
• Talk about kitchen safety as you go. In the above picture the pan handles are turned inward so no one will walk by and knock them off the stove. However, two cupboard/oven doors have been left open under the stove and someone may run into them or trip and grab the hot stove to help balance themselves.
  

In the book: 15 puzzle pieces

Red Lace, Yellow Lace

Red Lace, Yellow Lace

Below is a 2016 post that I've resurrected because I want to add something to it. I have used the Red Lace, Yellow Lace shoe tying book for years with good success (see post below). But, I work with one individual who has tried to learn to tie shoes for over 10 years, without success. I happened to run across a video on Pinterest of a method I had never seen and tried it with him right away. Instead of dealing with a very long set of strings on the first step, you work with two pair of bunny ears. First, he was engaged, and you know how hard that can be for someone who has had a lot of failure with something. Second, he was tying with about 50% assist by the time I left. That was HUGE and I feel he will be able to finally learn as they work with him over the next couple of weeks, so I wanted to share the link here. Pinterest link for tying shoes. 

 

 

Red Lace, Yellow Lace is a flip-top book that teaches kids to tie shoes. I have used Red Lace, Yellow Lace in therapy to teach older kids (who had given up) to learn to tie their shoes fairly quickly. This tool has been especially successful with people who learn visually.

I have 2 books. I use one to model and they use one to practice. Then, after they have learned to tie with the book, if it is necessary I take the shoe laces out and put them in their shoes (for most it has not been necessary). Then they can continue to follow the colors if they need to on the actual shoes until they are doing it independently. Very exciting for them to see success after years of failed attempts!

Shoe tying and lacing involves a lot of different skills, so it isn't surprising that it takes some people a while to master it. It requires fine motor skills, manual dexterity, visual perceptual skills, and motor planning, to name a few.

 

I teach shoe tying in two steps: 1) The initial crisscross and, 2) the loops and bow. We practice the first step and don't move on until it is learned. Then we move to the second step. If it takes several sessions, or the individual gets frustrated because of past experiences, we work on it only a short time per session. Only after the individual has mastered the tying do we move to the lacing. Then they are able to lace and end with a bow. 

 

FYI - Have you ever noticed that some people have bows on their shoes that run vertically instead of horizontally? That was me for years. The direction of your bow is determined by which lace is on top during the initial crisscross. Vertical bows tend to come untied quicker. People may learn to tie with a vertical bow if the individual teaching is sitting across from them. If they are teaching a horizontal bow, but their right is your left, and your left is their right (sitting across), you will end up learning to tie a vertical bow. I figure this is what happened to me. I always sit next to a person when I am teaching shoe tying so this does not happen.

If you are interested in purchasing this book or just want more information, click on the image below to go to Amazon.com.