Cookies

Let’s Learn About Cookies and Measuring

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is Coming!

: Create simple felt cookies for pretend play.

It’s almost time to celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! This special day is coming August 4th, and this month’s Playdatebox is all set up to help you get ready to make your very own cookies so you can celebrate in style. As you and your grandchild or child work through all of the games and activities in your box this month, you’ll also learn some early math and measuring skills together. Grandma RaRa and Grandma Nae love to cook. It’s something our Grandma taught us, and time in the kitchen has
unmistakable benefits for your grandchildren.
Let’s take a look at what’s inside
THIS MONTH’S BOX!

The Doorbell Rang: What happens when too many people come to play and there aren’t enough cookies to go around? A great book about cookies and sharing using simple math.

Counting Cookies Game: A fun game to play with your Playdatebox buddy. You’ll practice some simple math as you add and subtract cookies from the cookie jar.

Measuring Tools: This month’s Playdatebox includes measuring cups and measuring spoons so you can measure things in the kitchen and beyond.

Felt Playtime Cookies: An adorable set of pretend cookies made with felt that you’ll use for a handful of fun math and pretend play games.

Measure and Make Cookie Book: A full-color recipe book for very young chefs. Make chocolate chip cookies one step at a time as you learn simple kitchen measurements.

Cookie Delivery Kit: Cookie mix and a greeting card so you can bake cookies to deliver to someone you love

Measuring Activity Idea Sheet: A fun list of simple ways you can practice your measuring skills all over the kitchen.

Playdate #1

Read “The Doorbell Rang” Together

The Doorbell Rang is a fun read-aloud about some lucky kids who have an entire plateful of cookies to enjoy. But each time the doorbell rings, they have to put their heads together and do the math to figure out how to divide a plateful of cookies fairly now that there are more friends to share with.

Try doing this remotely by reading the book aloud via Zoom or FaceTime or another videoconferencing app. Also, try sharing this YouTube version by sharing your screen with the child you are “reading” to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZpXuc735pg

Playdate #2

Add and Subtract Cookies from the Cookie Jar

Download this fun game and play along with your Playdatebox Buddy. You’ll spin the dice and add cookies of your choice to the cookie jar until they are all inside. Once your cookie jar is full, you can keep spinning the dice to remove cookies. Along the way, you’ll learn some simple addition and subtraction skills.

DOWNLOAD YOUR COUNTING COOKIES GAME

You can download a copy of the game for yourself and for a “buddy” you want to play with via videoconference. You’ll both need to cut out your cookies first and assemble your cookie jar and a plate on your side of the screen, but you’ll “mirror” one another’s play. If your buddy spins a 3 and then adds 3 cookies from her plate to the cookie jar, you will do the same. Essentially, you’ll be playing duplicate games even if you live miles apart.

Playdate #3

Let’s Measure Things!

Turn your kitchen measuring cups and measuring spoons into the new favorite toy, or add a set to your child’s toybox, and together, you can dream up all kinds of fun measuring activities. Begin by showing your little one how smaller cups pour into larger ones. You can create a simple sensory box with a bag of inexpensive rice or beans for a younger child. An older child will have lots of fun pouring from smaller measuring spoons and cups into larger ones. Teach her that 1/3 cup, when filled up three times, will fill a 1-cup measure exactly to the brim. Measuring cups and spoons even make fun bathtub toys if you want to pour water and keep the mess contained. We’ve created an infographic that will give you some additional ideas for measuring in the kitchen.

DOWNLOAD THE MEASURING INFOGRAPHICS

Gather measuring cups and measuring spoons on both sides of your remote videoconference and prepare the child’s parent for some mess-making that you will “supervise.” Have mom or dad spread a sheet or tablecloth underneath the child and supply him with his own set of measuring cups and a large container of rice or beans or other “measurable” substance. You can show him how you measure and pour, but be prepared to just watch and enjoy as your grandchild measures, pours, and dumps. As a second option, you can conference in for playtime over the kitchen sink as your grandchild measures water from the sink or bathtub.

Playdate #4

Pretend Play Felt Cookies

: Practice counting by covering each chocolate chip with a marker such as a bean.

: Create simple felt cookies for pretend play.

: Real cookies are fun to stack and measure too.

The purchased Playdatebox includes felt play cookies, but you can design your own with some inexpensive supplies. Simply cut circles out of tan or beige felt, add dots to the top to represent chocolate chips, add a little bit of batting, and stitch around the outside edge. You could also make simple cookies from cardboard. Once your cookies are ready, you can use them for lots of measuring fun.

How many cookies high can you stack your cookies
Can you line them up in order from most chocolate chips to least chocolate chips?
Turn the cookies over and play a “matching” game by flipping cookies one at a time until you find two that match.
Use your cookies for a pretend tea party
Put all of the cookies in a bag and draw one out. Find something in the room that matches. For example, if your cookie has three chocolate chips, find three of something in the room–3 throw pillows from the couch, 3 crayons, or 3 spoons.

You can make your own set of felt cookies if you want to play along, but it’s also fun to just play side-by-side via videoconference. See if your grandchild can cover the dots in his felt cookies with a real chocolate chip. It’s a matching game and counting game and you can play along even if you are in a different room!

Try a remote Tea Party! Have your grandchild set up a space for you, including a chair and a plate of cookies. A device in the chair isn’t quite the same as a living, breathing human, but it can be close. Your tea party can go on for only minutes, or it might last for the duration of your grandchild’s pretend playtime. The great thing is that you’ll be able to be part of it even though you are far away.

Playdate #5

Bake Your Own Cookies

Very young chefs can use this fun mini cookbook to learn the step-by-step of creating a favorite recipe. Each page shows a step in the process for making chocolate chip cookies.

DOWNLOAD FREE COOKBOOK

You can bake cookies simultaneously with your grandchild as you work through the pages step-by-step. Mom or Dad may need to be close by to help younger children, but you can be the teacher as you show her how to measure and mix. We recommend a tripod for your smartphone or tablet, and make certain the device is away from the cooking area so that spills won’t harm your electronics.

Playdate #6

Deliver Cookies to Someone Special

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COOKIE CARD

Finally, what is a cookie playdate without some cookies to share? Use a simple purchased cookie mix or your favorite cookie recipe and make a sweet treat for a friend, loved one, or neighbor. Be sure to download and print the supplied greeting card. We recommend you print on heavy cardstock. Set your printer to print 2-sided then simply fold your card in half. Be sure to add your signature and a handwritten message.

Make a batch of favorite cookies and exchange them via mail with the grandchild you love. Download a copy of the greeting card and make sure you add your own message. Homemade cookies mail well if you package two of them back to back (with the flat sides together) and wrap them securely with plastic wrap. Do this with each pair of cookies until everything is securely wrapped. Once you’ve assembled your cookie supply, ship them in a box along with your card. Popcorn makes great lightweight filler in place of packaging peanuts!