Building self-confidence with homemade fortune cookies

Finding a fortune cookie recipe isn’t complicated. A quick internet search will give you plenty of options. But leaving this task to your child will give them the opportunity to practise a few important skills:

• How to use search engines
• How to tell what sites (and recipes) are trustworthy
• How to do things on their own
• Etc.

Cooking is a fun family activity with many benefits. For example, it sets the table for inspiring conversations and helps prepare kids for the future (knowing how to cook is a pretty important life skill). Cooking also involves the following:

• Good work methods (e.g., keeping the kitchen tidy, ensuring food safety)
• Problem solving (e.g., finding a good substitute for eggs)
• Doing math operations (e.g., adding, dividing, or subtracting ingredients)
• Learning about different cultures
• Reading comprehension
• Following instructions
• Etc.

The best part about fortune cookies is getting to break them open and read the messages they contain. Those little slips of paper hidden at their centre offer such pearls of wisdom as “Slow and steady wins the race!” With homemade fortune cookies, you can either look for inspiring proverbs online or have fun coming up with new ones. Follow these tips if you’d like to try writing your own:

• Use full sentences
• Incorporate unusual turns of phrase
• Express general truths, good advice, etc.

To get things started, check out these made-up proverbs:

• Relish your homework so you don’t have to ketchup the night before an exam
• Running away from your problems will only slow you down
• Studying is like eating: you have to give yourself time to digest
• Students who invest in their learning enjoy the greatest returns

Young children are generally very creative and love coming up with wacky rhymes. As they get older, they tend to like rhymes that make them laugh. Whatever your approach, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Each line should end with the same sound
• The message should have a musical quality
• The syllables should follow a rhythm
• Etc.

Here are some examples to inspire you:

• Math is better when you’re wearing a sweater
• Pop quizzes don’t have to burst your bubble—know your stuff and you’ll stay out of trouble
• Finish your homework today so that tomorrow you can play
• Etc.

Once the cookies are ready, share them with your family and friends! Praising your child’s hard work and expressing how proud you are will go a long way:

• Your child will gain confidence in their abilities
• Their self-esteem will improve
• They’ll reflect on what they achieved
• They’ll feel proud of themself
• Etc.