News
Kids Can Do More than Raid the
Refrigerator
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--29 June 2011-- Want to raise happier kids?
Consider getting them into the kitchen to do some chores.
GE Cafe(TM) refrigerator, model
CFSP54KBSS. (Photo: GE)
That may seem counter-intuitive especially if you've ever had to
nag a teen to unload groceries or help with dinner. But now you've
got science on your side.
Citing a study conducted by UCLA researchers Eva H. Telzer and
Andrew J. Fuligni,
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an article published by the Greater Good Science
Center1 at the University of California, Berkeley,
noted that 14- and 15-year-olds who helped out more around the
house reported "greater feelings of happiness" than those who
helped less.
And what better place to start than in the kitchen, often
considered the center of the home?
"Kitchen activities also provide an opportunity to spend time
with your child and teach them how to eat in a healthy manner,"
said Dr. Sarah Cummins-Sebree, a faculty member at the University
of Cincinnati who specializes in child development.
Start early
So how do you instill the habit of helping out? The key is to
start early and let kids develop skills over time. Cummins-Sebree
says experts differ on what household tasks are appropriate at
different ages. She encourages parents to be guided by the
abilities of the individual child, adding, "Don't underestimate
what your child can do."
"Even children younger than 2 years of age will try to start
helping out," said Cummins-Sebree. "They want to get involved and
do what the 'big people' are doing," she said. "You want to promote
that sense of motivation and initiative."
Focusing on the fridge
One appliance that many children become familiar with at an
early age is the
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refrigerator. Convenient storage features on GE Profile" and GE
Café" refrigerators allow all family members small and tall
to help out in the kitchen.
Toddlers, for example, may be able to help put their yogurt cups
and juice boxes in the refrigerator after a shopping trip, said
Cummins-Sebree, if you place grocery bags on the floor.
And if you have a
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bottom-freezer refrigerator, young children may also be able to
help put away their favorite frozen vegetables, such as peas or
carrots. The multi-level Slide 'n Store" system on select GE
bottom-freezer refrigerators includes a plastic bin and wire
baskets for flexible storage.
"Two to 3 years of age is also a good time to get [children]
involved in choosing their own foods," said Cummins-Sebree. Create
homemade flashcards by snapping photos of fruits and vegetables or
clipping pictures from a magazine. Then let the little ones point
to what they want. "It gives them some control over the foods
they're going to eat -- which makes them more likely to eat them,"
she said.
At 4 or 5, children may be able to put slightly larger items in
the refrigerator. You can also involve them in preparing a grocery
list based on the meals and recipes they like.
As they get older perhaps ages 5 through 8 kids may be able to
use the refrigerator more on their own and do simple food
preparation, said Cummins-Sebree. Your son or daughter might be
able to get out their own juice boxes, make a simple sandwich, or
tear lettuce by hand. Again, what's appropriate depends on the
individual child. "If they've shown they can use a butter knife,
they might cut up bananas for smoothies, or butter toast."
Worried about messes? Slide-out, spillproof shelves on many GE
refrigerators ensure that up to 12 ounces of spills stay put, and
the shelves slide out to make cleanup easy.
And long before they're tall enough to reach the kitchen faucet,
kids may enjoy helping themselves to clean, clear water and ice
from an external refrigerator dispenser.
Look ma, no measuring cups!
Once children reach middle school, Cummins-Sebree said they may
be able to handle making simple meals, such as spaghetti with salad
and bread. "It's amazing what kids can do if you give them a chance
and watch over them."
Measuring the correct amount of water for pasta is easy with the
external water dispenser on select GE Profile"
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side-by-side refrigerators. With PreciseFill technology, kids
can select the amount of water they need in cups or
ounces.2
Don't clam up clean up
Around 12 to 14 years of age, when kids may begin to "clam up" a
bit, spending time in the kitchen with you may help your teen open
up more, said Cummins-Sebree. "If they're focused on preparing a
salad or making cookies, they forget to put up that wall."
And, if you've let your kids build kitchen skills throughout
childhood, she added, "There's no reason why a 16-year-old can't go
to the grocery store on their own, with a list they've created, and
then make a complete dinner with appetizer and dessert."
A teen who talks openly with you AND can cook a full meal? Now
that's a happy thought.
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1 Grazer, Joy Suzanne, All in the Family. Greater
Good, June 8, 2010, accessed on April 14, 2011,
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2 Videos for PreciseFill are located at:
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