From the Kitchen to the Cherry Tree: How Life Skills Shape Resilient Kids

Summer is not just a time to relax, but also a time to learn and grow. Children can develop important life skills in various ways during the summer, whether it’s in the kitchen, garden, through books, or spending time outdoors.

The author shares her personal experience of learning to cook during a difficult time in Ceaușescu’s Romania. Despite food shortages and limited resources, her family made do with what they had, preserving and making the most of seasonal ingredients. Cooking became a bonding experience where stories, wisdom, and resilience were passed down through generations.

While the author longed for other activities like reading in a cherry tree or exploring books in her grandparents’ home, she also valued the lessons learned in the kitchen. Her grandfather instilled the importance of education and hard work, which shaped her future endeavors in tutoring, working in restaurants, and starting a catering business.

Now, the author pays it forward by teaching free cooking classes to children at the local library, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, resourcefulness, and connection through food. She believes that these life skills are essential for survival in a constantly changing world.

Encouraging children to engage in practical tasks like cooking, cleaning, and learning new skills is seen as beneficial for their development and sense of belonging. These experiences, whether in the kitchen or outdoors, can help shape their character and prepare them for the challenges they may face in the future.