Potato latkes are also known as potato pancakes. They are a loved addition to the Hanukkah palate. Latkes are traditionally eaten during the Jewish Hanukkah festival. To continue our celebration of this most exciting holiday, we created latkes for a dramatic play activity.

To do this, we used cheese graters and potato peelers to slice up potatoes. We then added these potatoes to muffin trays, plastic frying pans, and other cooking accessories that we later cooked in pretend ovens. We then served to these to our friends!

Cooking activities are not only a fun, engaging activity for children, but one that can be used as an important teaching and development tool for all ages. The act of following a recipe can encourage self-direction and independence, while also teaching children to follow directions and use thinking skills to problem solve. Such actions support cognitive development.

Chopping, mixing, and grating the potatoes required for our latkes are also skills that help develop your child’s small muscle control and eye-hand coordination. The strengthening of these muscles are critical for the manipulation of writing implements.

Creating our latkes also fostered language development. With its own vocabulary, Hanukkah is a great opportunity for acquiring new words and meanings. This takes advantage of opportunities for your budding chefs to match pictures to words and articulate questions inspired by their new experiences.