When I was growing up I loved baking and decorating cookies with my mother. So, November and December are my favorite months of the year.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension reports cooking activities help develop socialization skills such as sharing and teamwork. Did you know scrubbing, tearing, rolling and pouring develop motor skills? Plus, it’s a great way to improve a child’s language skills.

So, make a plan this holiday season to incorporate activities for your children in the kitchen.

Not sure which recipes to use? Visit the branches of the Hall County Library System or your school library. They have a wide selection of cookbooks for all ages.

Adults should keep in mind children develop at different rates. You have to judge for yourself their readiness for any activities.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension reminds parents:

* Small children can understand new words such as flatten, freeze, blend, add, strain and sift because the words are acted out in cooking activities.

* Cooking activities can improve science skills because children become accustomed to observing foods and predicting how they’ll change during cooking.

*Cooking gives kids an opportunity to observe, question, interpret, reason and solve problems.

It’s important to plan projects appropriate for each child’s age level:

* 2-year-olds can scrub and tear. Involve them in making a salad.

* 3-year-olds can mix, shake and spread.

* 4-year-olds can roll, mash and peel.

* 5-year-olds can measure, cut, grate and beat.

And follow these tips while actively cooking or baking:

* Supervise constantly, but keep your participation to a minimum.

* Always keep a first aid kit handy — accidents happen even to the most experienced cooks.

* Ensure your child can sit or stand at a comfortable level while working.

* Turn pot handles away from the edge of the range to prevent spills and burns.

* Keep instructions simple and short.

* Whenever possible, use unbreakable items.

* Always wash children’s hands before and after handling raw meats and poultry.

* Remind kids to keep their hands away from hair, mouths and noses while preparing food.

* Use hot mitts for putting things in or taking things out of the oven and lifting lids.

* Keep fingers away from mixer blades or blender blades.

* Chop or slice on a cutting board, not in their hands.

* Never plug in or unplug appliances with wet hands.

* Roll up their sleeves to prevent them from getting caught on pot handles or getting too close to burners.

* Be careful when opening and handling cans because lids can be sharp.

* Clean up as you go.

Sandra Stringer is a nutrition educator with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in Hall County. She may be contacted at 770-535-8290. Her column appears monthly on Wednesdays and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.