Introduce your little chefs to their set up area. By making it look special and inviting, there is a high chance that your child will be thrilled to jump into play! Explain that for this game, they are the chef and they will need to take orders and make up the food. The different menu items contain different amounts of ingredients. “3 Stew” is made using just 3 of each ingredient (loose parts). “4 Salad” is made using 4 of each ingredient, and so on.
To help remember the amount of each ingredient needed, as well as to provide a corresponding visual reminder of both the written symbol and the amount. Encourage children to count aloud as they include each ingredient. As the children play, continue to ask them questions to get them referring to the written number and amount.
Things to discuss: Which are we making? What does the number look like? How many of each ingredient do we need? How many of each ingredient they are putting in? What does that symbol mean