Five Minute Favorite: At the Bakery
The beauty of a Five Minute Favorite is that it can take place anywhere.
Like at a bakery after too many rainy Saturdays in a row.
I recently observed a family in front of a bakery case, and I saw that some learning was left on the table when it came time to order. A parent asked, “would you like this one or that one? Do you want the same kind Daddy likes?”
A bakery case is not just full of treats - it’s a wonderland of vocabulary.
The act of labeling objects and experiences with words - increasingly specific words - is one of the most important things you can do to support your child.
Cake doughnut, glazed doughnut, apple cider donut, maple bar.
Croissant, concha, kolache, Kouign-Amann.
Whole wheat sourdough, English muffin, focaccia.
When you help your child attach specific language to objects and experiences, you help them to develop their cognition and their level of connection with the world around them.
Here’s how:
Start with discussing just a few items at the bakery. “Look at these beautiful pastries. I wanted to share some of their names with you, and tell you a little bit about them.”
Describe some of the sensory and cultural details of a handful of types of doughnut, pastry, or bread. Maybe you will decide to add something new to your bakery bag that week, so your child can experience it.
Repeat. This is key. Go back the next weekend, highlight these same vocabulary words - not new ones yet - and describe a bit about the pastries again. See what your child has retained, but don’t quiz them. Offer a few new names when you see understanding and some retention.
Repeat again with a sense of appreciation and curiosity. Soon, your child will have an array of new vocabulary words that they can utilize in daily life. With time, try some new bakeries to expand your horizons.
This is a fun, easy layer of learning to integrate.
Enjoy!