Each play idea offers something for the whole family to get involved in. Children learn best when they can control and act upon their environment. Many opportunities should be available for seeing, touching, tasting, learning and self expression. Parents, as a child's first teachers, have many opportunities to provide experiences that stimulate their children's senses and curiosity.
Children learn by doing, and play is their work.
Let the children wash the vegetables for you. Cut small pieces of vegetables and have children taste raw vegetables compared to the same vegetables cooked. Due to the hazard of choking, do not do this with young, pre-school children. While the vegetable soup is cooking, you could save a few vegetables and place one each in small cups and cover with aluminum foil. Punch a small hole in the top of the aluminum foil.