Cooking with kids is a great way to have some fun and activate their brains. It can also inspire them to be creative and find an art that they truly enjoy. On top of this, cooking is a life skill that all children should be taught as they grow up.
However, in a world of computer games, Youtube videos, and phones, how do you get your child engaged in cooking? It’s good for them to be included in every aspect of cooking, from start to finish. Here are some simple tips.
Have Patience
There’s no denying that cooking will take longer when you do it with kids. They may spill the milk or crack an egg on the floor and this should all be a part of the fun. If you go into each cooking lesson knowing that you’ll need to be patient, you’re less likely to get frustrated.
As with anything else, kids need to take their time and make mistakes before they start getting things right. Demonstrate how to do it right but allow them to experiment too.
Go Shopping
Going shopping for ingredients can help your children to engage in the activity. Make a list of the things you need and put your kids in charge of finding everything when you arrive at the store. They may need some help but the experience is worth it and rewarding for them.
Talk about the colors and textures of the ingredients. It can also help to taste the ingredients before using them. Watch how the ingredients change as they are cooked.
Be Prepared
It’s often much easier to cook with kids when you have everything you need in front of you.
Make sure you have all the ingredients ready and all of the tools you need. It can help to prepare the ingredients for younger children.
Weigh out what you need and put each ingredient aside ready for use. Kids tend to make a mess as they cook so it will also help to have a cloth handy to quickly mop up anything on your work surface.
Get Them Ready
Some kids are fussy about getting in a mess…and some are not. If you know your kids are likely to get in a mess, put them in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Alternatively, use aprons or cover their clothes by turning a plastic bag into a t-shirt.
When kids aren’t worried about making a mess or getting themselves dirty, they’re more likely to have fun and be fully engaged in what they’re doing.
Choose Recipes They Like
Part of cooking is tasting the end result. If you want to get your kids into cooking with you, choose recipes you know they’ll love. For instance, most kids love pizza but have your kids ever seen how a pizza base is made?
Try out the Ooni pizza dough recipe and let them have a go at throwing the dough in the air. They’ll love the process of making the pizza and the tasting at the end is the cherry on top.
Talk Them Through The Steps
Kids are excitable and it can be difficult to hold their attention. This is where communication comes in. If your kids know what to expect, it will be easier for them to remain patient.
Talk about each step in the recipe and what you need each child to do. If you’re using a recipe book, show your children the pictures so they know what everything should look like. This is a great time to answer any inquisitive questions they may have.
Keep Learning
Cooking offers many opportunities for learning. In addition to building their cooking skills, preparing a recipe will also need math skills, reading skills, and even geography knowledge. They’ll need to weigh out ingredients, follow instructions, and look at cooking times.
It’s a great opportunity to talk about ingredients too- Do you know where this fruit comes from? For small children, it’s the perfect way to practice fine motor skills and coordination.
Age Appropriate
If you’re working with a children’s recipe book, each recipe should come with an age range. However, it’s important to consider your own child’s abilities. You will be able to tell whether your child is able to do something above the recommended age or needs to stick to the age guidance.
There will also be times when you’re able to get creative with the recipes and let your child make their own choices. This gives your child more control and means they’re more likely to stay interested in the activity.
Let Them Lead
It can be difficult to let your children lead, especially when it can end in ruined recipes. Your guidance is needed but if you can step back and let your kids do the majority of the work, they’ll learn a lot. If they see that you’re relaxed and not trying to control everything, they’ll feel free to take things into their own hands.
Practice makes perfect and this is certainly true where cooking is concerned. Making mistakes and starting again is all part of the fun.
Get Ready For The Clean Up
It’s a good idea to make your kids responsible for the cleaning up too. If you’re cleaning up for them, they’ll feel free to make as much mess as they want to. Having said this, kids aren’t always the best at cleaning up to their parent’s standards.
Even if your kids clean up some of their mess, you may still need to step in and clean the rest. If there are different stages to your cooking, cleaning in between will mean you all have the space you need to continue through the recipe.
If you’re just starting to enjoy cooking with your kids, start with basic and quick recipes that will grab their attention and work up to other recipes as they learn. If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, take a look at the others.
