Give dad a call, doing kitchen work (6)
I believe the answer is:
paring
'doing kitchen work' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'give dad a call' is the wordplay.
'give' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'dad' becomes 'pa' (both can mean one's father).
'a call' becomes 'ring' (telephone call).
'pa'+'ring' is 'PARING'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paring that I've seen before include "cutting things fine" , "Decreasing bit by bit" , "Cutting shavings" , "Shaving, whittling" , "Trimming away excess or peeling fruit" .)