Kids Cooking Supplies
May 30, 2010
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Kids Cooking Supplies
Allowance for Money Management Skills: Help your Kids Tomorrow by Teaching Them About Money Today
Can you remember what it was like to be a kid and really, really want something? To feel like all your future happiness hinged on your ability to get your hands on that one item, be it a pony, a bicycle or a comic book? To look forward to the next gift-giving holiday with hope and worry? To empty your piggy bank, count, recount and calculate how many more months allowance you still needed? Of course you can. And you can probably remember exactly what it was that you were saving up for. For me, it was a horse. And I'm certain that you can remember whether or not you ever managed to get it. Me? I didn't.
But no matter what the details of your memories, happy or sad, you learned something from them. In a nutshell, you learned about money -- what it can and can't buy, how it doesn't grow on trees, and why you need to be careful about when and where you spend it. Simple lessons learned in a simple way, at a simple time in life.
Sometimes I wonder if the emotions people attach to their allowance-related memories aren't drowning out the lessons. So often what we remember most is the disappointment of unfulfilled dreams, or the weeks, months or years we spent feeling like have-nots. These negative feelings tempt us to forget the valuable lessons connected to them, and it seems to me like too many people are giving in to their temptations, turning a blind eye to the lessons they once knew, and vowing that their children will never want for anything.
Not all life's lessons are pleasant to learn, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still better to live through them when you've still got time to learn from them. Not getting that horse as a kid has, in the long run, made me a lot happier than I would have been if my parents had spent way beyond their means to see my dream come true. For one thing, our already-tight family budget would have snapped and I'm sure my parents would have snapped too. I wouldn't have learned how to save because I wouldn't have had to pull $8 from my piggy bank -- two weeks allowance -- for each horseback riding lesson. Later, when I was big enough, I'd learn a little bit more about work by helping out at the horse farm in exchange for free lessons. And in the end, after years of working on the farm and riding, I realised that horses live longer than my dream was going to and that I'd been having the same experience, or maybe even a better one, than my horse-owning friends who were now stuck with a very expensive pet they couldn't take to college with them.
Two summer camp experiences stick out in my mind. The first was when I was about 10 years old, at a day camp for Girl Scouts. I remember explaining the agreement my parents and I had about my horseback riding lessons to an inquisitive camp counselor. Actually, I think it was the camp director. She was amazed that I was willing to forfeit all my allowance money (and all the candy, toys and whatever else kids spend their money on) for one half hour of horseback riding twice a month. I was amazed that she was so amazed, amazed enough that I still remember the conversation. I thought that was just the way things were; everyone had to prioritize their desires/needs and make sacrifices You couldn't have everything.
In retrospect, I still think that's the way things are -- we do have to prioritize and make sacrifices - but I'm a lot less surprised that my camp director was so shocked that I, at the age of 10, seemed to know this. Ten years later, I would be the camp employee shocked by what kids do and don't know about money. I spent a few summers working at an academic summer program, a cross between a summer school and a summer camp. I was the "Supply Office" manager, responsible for the program's entire inventory and purchasing of classroom supplies. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the program was home to 700 kids for six straight weeks and the number of classes was somewhere around 300, each with its own budget, and many with titles like "Cooking with Chemistry" or "Fashion Design -- Make Your Own Clothes" requiring a lot of supplies. If an instructor needed a box of paper clips or a lemon, they came to me so that I could check through their budget to see if they had enough money to make the purchase. If they did, I put their request on the shopping list for my staff to buy. There were a lot of boxes of paper clips and a lot of lemons... And rocket engines and pink lace and whiffle ball bats and clown noses and frozen turkeys.
And then there were the bogus requests. One of my favorites was a requisition for liquid nitrogen and no, that wasn't a joke; someone was really expecting me to get it for their class. But more frequently the bogus requests came from instructors (all college students) who obviously never had an allowance as a child and weren't paying for their tuition, meal plan, books or toothpaste. Once an architecture instructor asked me to get something like $75 worth of foam board for a one time activity when he only had a budget of $100 for the entire 6 weeks! I remember fighting with him, trying to convince him that even though using plain tag board wouldn't work quite as well for the activity it was still better than having no money or supplies left for the rest of the summer. Not long after, my staff and I adopted the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" as our official office theme song.
Too many of the kids attending the summer program were a kind of spoilt I could never have imagined. They would roll in on the first day with an entire set of authentic Louis Vuitton luggage and turn their noses up at the college dorm rooms they were expected to sleep in, leading me to wonder how they were going to get through the summer. The thing about kids is that they're very good at adapting. The first few days were always tough, but most of them made it through just fine without their Starbucks, cell phones or favorite evening meal. Yet I pale to think how quickly these same kids adapted right back to their old lifestyles upon returning home.
So the moral of the story is this: allowance is good, not bad! Remember the lessons you learned from it and if you have kids of your own, do them the same favor your parents did you and be tough about allowance. As soon as your children are mature enough to understand the cause and effect relationships of money (probably sometime between the ages of 8 and 10), set a weekly amount, clear requirements for "earning" the allowance, and boundaries about what kinds of things your children are expected to buy for themselves. And then, stick to those boundaries.
This is the hard part. For example, if your son is saving up for something he will probably have to give up other things he wants; you need to be willing to watch him go without. Don't "reward" him by giving him extra money or buying him the things he is giving up. To do so would be to completely undermine the lessons of allowance. He is supposed to realise that if he spends all his allowance on a pair of fancy sneakers, he won't have any money left to go to the movies that weekend and show off those snazzy new shoes. Instead, reward his good budgeting behavior by giving him additional privileges and freedoms regarding his money (maybe let him buy those concert tickets, etc.) By doing so you also give him additional opportunities to learn how to be responsible with his money.
It won't be easy, especially if your family's finances allow room for occasional splurges, but when you're tempted to stray from your own rules, just remember, you're probably in this position because you learned about money as a kid. And if you don't find yourself rolling in extra cash, then setting a budget for your kids (and for yourself regarding what you'll spend on luxury items for them) can help you balance your own household budget and adopt frugality as an entire family commitment.
I wasn't a genius at age 10 (some things never change) just because I knew that I needed to prioritize my wants and needs; I was just lucky -- lucky that my parents had stood firm and taught me the lessons of allowance.
 Curious Chef 3-Piece Nylon Knife Set Sale Price: $12.59  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionAfter years of development and real-world testing, the Curious Chef collection of kid-friendly kitchen tools was born. Our complete Curious Chef line encompasses an assortment of uniquely designed cooking products by creating "real kitchen tools for kids". We incorporate the elements of safety and vibrant color throughout our entire line and every piece in our collection is easy to grip and is sized for small hands. Just mix and match any number of items to meet all your culinary needs. This Curious Chef 3 piece nylon plastic knife set features a small, medium and large nylon plastic knife. Designed for kids, these knives have ergonomic handles for small hands and soft touch button grips. They feature serrated cutting edges with a blunt tip for optimum safety. They are dishwasher safe and appropriate for children ages 5+. The knives conform to safety requirements of ASTM F963 and CPSIA lead and phthalate limits and is a BPA free product. Features
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 Wilton 2104-6667 12 Piece Cupcake Decorating Set List Price: Sale Price: $8.34 You save: $0.05 (1%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionMake cupcakes exciting and fun with 4 versatile tips. Get ready to create novel designs for everyday treats using Star Tips 1M and 22, Round Tip 12 and Bismarck Tip 230. Features
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 Sassafras Little Cook Kid's Kitchen Tool Kit List Price: Sale Price: $15.78 You save: $4.22 (21%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionA real educational experience for children ages 5+ with adult supervision. Set includes a whisk, rolling pin, spatula, wooden spoon, pastry scraper, measuring cups, measuring spoons, melon baller and herb pot. Got a little helper who insists on being your sous chef during food preparation? The tools in this kit are appropriately sized just for kids and are safe for children to use. The kit comes with a set of blue plastic measuring cups in 1/8-, 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, and 1-cup sizes and red plastic measuring spoons for 1/4-, 1/2-, and 1 teaspoon and 1/2- and 1 tablespoon sizes. Kids learn valuable math concepts by measuring out quantities with these cups and spoons. In addition, the kit has a plastic funnel for no-mess pouring of liquid ingredients. Other tools include a wire whisk with a rubber-coated non-slip handle for beating eggs or batter, a wooden rolling pin for rolling out dough, a rubber spatula with a wooden handle for scraping every last bit of batter or frosting from a bowl, and a wooden spoon for stirring thicker concoctions. A metal melon baller with two scoop sizes gives fruit salads a dressier presentation. Finally, a pint-sized wooden-handled metal spatula is easier for kids to control when flipping mini burgers or removing cookies from a baking sheet. All tools come in a clear vinyl carrying case that travels easily to a friend's kitchen and keeps all utensils clean when not in use. This kit is a great gift for children who are clamoring to be involved during meal preparations. --Cristina Vaamonde What's in the BoxPastry scraper, wooden spoon, measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula, whisk, rolling pin, funnel, melon ball scooper, vinyl bag Features
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 Kuhn Rikon Cookie and Cupcake Decorating Set List Price: Sale Price: $18.95 You save: $7.70 (29%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionInstant fun for the whole family - kids and adults - with professional quality results. The Cookie and Cupcake Decorating Set from Kuhn Rikon has everything you need to decorate cookies, cupcakes and cakes. 4 Decorating Bottles for different color icings, 9 interchangeable decorating tips and one frosting spatula. Features
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 Wilton 2104-2546 53 Piece Supreme Cake Decorating Set List Price: Sale Price: $28.49 You save: $4.50 (14%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionWilton Supreme decorating set. Decorate many advanced wedding, floral and basketweave cakes as well as basic. Includes metal decorating tips #2,3,5,7,12,16,18,21,32,47,65,67,101, 103, 104, 129, 225 and 352. 24 disposable decorating bags, two tip couplers, 5 icing colors, 1 flower nail, 8" spatula, storage tray and 40 page book! If you've dreamed of becoming a cake decorator extraordinaire, this decorating set from Wilton has everything you need to get started. Learn how to make icing leaves, roses, stars, ribbons, and basket-weave designs with the 18 different metal decorating tips. Those perfect icing roses everyone is always so eager to pluck off the cake are easily fashioned with the help of the 1-1/4-inch flower nail, and the angled metal spatula is just right for creating smoothly iced surfaces. The set includes 12 disposable plastic icing bags, five jars of icing colors, and two quick-change tip couplers that allow you to use several tips with the same bag of icing. Most importantly, Wilton provides an easy-to-follow instruction booklet that clearly illustrates all the basic techniques, as well as some more elaborate ones--15 different imaginative cake designs are explained in detail. Also included are several cake and icing recipes. --Marianne Painter Features
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 Kids White Chef Apron and Hat Set Child Size Sale Price: $7.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe kids apron and hat cooking party favor or kids dress-up set includes white cotton fabric children's aprons and chef hats. The kids chef hat is adjustable with velcro. The kids apron is one size fits all for ages 2-11 years old. The hats are adjustable with velcro, up to 25" circumference. The aprons are adjustable at the waist and neck, up to 37" in length and up to 40" at the waist. Your kids will be sure to enjoy cooking in the kitchen while wearing their own kids apron and hat. Our kids apron and hat sets make excellent gifts, dress-up sets or party favors for cooking parties. Features
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 Curious Chef Tomato Cutting Board Sale Price: $12.15 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionAfter years of development and real-world testing, the Curious Chef collection of kid-friendly kitchen tools was born. Our complete Curious Chef line encompasses an assortment of uniquely designed cooking products by creating "real kitchen tools for kids". We incorporate the elements of safety and vibrant color throughout our entire line and every piece in our collection is easy to grip and is sized for small hands. Just mix and match any number of items to meet all your culinary needs. This Curious Chef tomato shaped cutting board measures 8 by 8 inches. Designed for kids, this reversible board has a non-slip edge. It is dishwasher safe and appropriate for children ages 5+. It conforms to safety requirements of ASTM F963 and CPSIA lead and phthalate limits and is a BPA free product. Features
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 Curious Chef Fruit & Vegetable Peeler Sale Price: $7.73 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionAfter years of development and real-world testing, the Curious Chef collection of kid-friendly kitchen tools was born. Our complete Curious Chef line encompasses an assortment of uniquely designed cooking products by creating "real kitchen tools for kids". We incorporate the elements of safety and vibrant color throughout our entire line and every piece in our collection is easy to grip and is sized for small hands. Just mix and match any number of items to meet all your culinary needs. This Curious Chef fruit and vegetable peeler features stainless steel blades for real peeling. Designed for kids, it has an ergonomic handle for small hands and soft touch button grips. It is dishwasher safe and appropriate for children ages 7+. It conforms to safety requirements of ASTM F963 and CPSIA lead and phthalate limits and is a BPA free product. Features
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 Head Chefs 9-Inch Icing Spreader List Price: Sale Price: $9.43 You save: $0.52 (5%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionHead Chefs kids cooking tools are a fun and safe way to have your junior chef help out in the kitchen and encourage playing with food. The unique comfortable design includes bendable arms and legs with soft silicone bodies which fit comfortably into small hands. The feet act as suction cups and can be affixed to most counter top surfaces so the spreader stands freely on its own. The vibrant red color is appealing and will inspire creativity in meal preparation for chefs of all ages. While the Head Chef silicone Icing Spreader is fun, it is also a professional quality kitchen tool. These tools are ideal for creating memorable meals together in the kitchen! Made of 100-percent food safe, high-grade silicone; dishwasher safe or wash with warm soap and water. 9-inch tall. Features
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 Step2 LifeStyle Custom Kitchen List Price: Sale Price: $69.00 You save: $30.99 (31%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThis amazingly realistic kitchen is perfect for hours of pretend play. Its decorative, country home styling is designed like today's upscale kitchens, and its stylish colors blend with your home. Kitchen includes a 17-piece accessory set consisting of frying pan with lid, boiling pot, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups, 2 knives, 2 forks, basket, salt and pepper shakers and an electronic phone. The kitchen features realistic electronic features in the stovetop and phone. Storage drawers and cabinets with authentic handle hardware keep things organized and add to the upscale look. Features like "granite" counter tops and "stainless" appliances make it hard to believe it's just a toy. Sink includes a swivel faucet. Minimal adult assembly required. Measures 41.5" x 28" x 14". Features
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