Kids Cooking: Make Rainbow Smoothies

IOWA CITY — Kids Gazette Cooking Series is back for the summer! Host Tony Baranowski with guests Adelaide, 14, and Louisa, 11, see how easy it is to make rainbow smoothies.

Our host and guest chefs prepare and present an easy-to-follow recipe. This program will encourage skill building and activity as a family — all around the theme of food and food preparation. There will be several new shows this year.

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In this episode, Kids Cooking takes a trip over to the Iowa Children’s Museum with reporter Grace King to speak with Adelaide and Louisa’s dad Jeff Capps, executive director of the museum.

This colorful museum at 1451 Coral Ridge Ave, in Coralville, is aimed at teaching kids about the world around them through fun and play.

The Iowa Children’s Museum is “a really special place designed for kids,” Capps said.

“People talk about play as if it’s a break from serious learning. For children, play is serious learning,” said Capps, quoting television host Fred Rogers, known for his late ‘90s TV show Mister Rogers Neighborhood.

Capps’ favorite exhibit at the Iowa Children’s Museum is the pizzeria where kids can play in the kitchen, make “pizzas” and serve them to the adults who accompany them to the museum.

“I love the kind of social interaction that happens there,” Capps said. “There’s also a lot of math in that exhibit. We can talk about how to divide up the pizza so everyone gets a fair amount. It’s one of those exhibits that is packed with so much learning.”

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Through play, children learn more about themselves and the world around them, Capps said. Each time they interact with an exhibit, it might be in a totally different way. At the museum, kids learn “how to learn, how to invent and discover new things, Capps said.

Staff members called “playologists” are around the museum to help ensure kids and families have a great experience, Capps said. “If they need some help our playologist will be there to support them and guide them,” he said.

Kids often will play with exhibits in the museum in ways adults never expect them to, Capps said. “Kids find a way to play, and they often surprise you in very good ways,” he said.

The kids at the museum continue to teach Capps how incredibly capable and bright they are, he said.

“Our job is to give them the tools and the space and get out of the way,” Capps said.

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While there is a cost to go to the museum, some families who face barriers to admission can qualify for free access. ICM for Everyone is a program that works with community agencies to recommend people who could benefit from a free membership.

Many families qualify for a free membership to The Iowa Children’s Museum, which provides a year of playtime in the exhibits as well as discounts for programs and purchases. Applications may be obtained by contacting one of the numerous social service organizations or schools the museum partners.

The Iowa Children’s Museum also offers free museum nights:

Rainbow Smoothies

Equipment needed: Blender

Ingredients:

Directions:

To a blender, add half a cup of yogurt, half a cup of milk, one tablespoon of honey, one cup of ice, one banana and one cup of your favorite fruit. The Kids Gazette chefs chose strawberries, blueberries and pineapple.

Use a blender to combine the ingredients. Make sure the lid is on tightly!

Pour in to a cup and enjoy!

To view the full episode, visit the Kids Gazette online at thegazette.com/kids.

For more information about the Iowa Children’s Museum, visit theicm.org

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com