Why Cook With Kids?

Does your child constantly bother you while you're preparing food in the kitchen?

Are you tired of hearing your child complain about the food you make?

Here's my suggestion: Involve your child in the cooking process!

I love cooking with children. I know, I know... sometimes kids make a mess in the kitchen. Everything takes longer to do and what if the kids ruin the recipe?

Any or all of the above may be true, but the potential for fun and learning outweigh the risks! And you may discover that you love it, too!

Kids love being involved with preparing food. That's part of why they're so likely to get in the way in your kitchen. They're interested in what you're doing, while you may be ignoring them.

So rather than push them away, draw them in.

Cooking activities are appropriate for children aged two and up. Obviously, the kind of involvement and learning is different for a two-year-old and a five-year-old, but both can be involved in the process, learn while cooking and have fun!

1. Following Directions:

Teach your child what a recipe is and that one must "follow the directions" in order for the recipe to work. Children learn that you must read directions and follow them in a certain order to get the result you want.

2. Simple Arithmetic:

Compare amounts. Are we putting in more flour or more baking powder? What is bigger, a half cup or a whole cup? How many half cups do you need to equal a whole cup? Develop her sequencing skills. Ask her, "What do we do first...second...last?"

3. Sensory Awareness:

Use ingredients with a variety of textures, smells, and tastes. Let her feel the difference between rice and beans. Let her taste the difference between sugar and salt.

4. Vocabulary Enrichment:

Enhance your child's knowledge of ingredients and items found around your kitchen. Flour, sugar and eggs may seem like everyday words to you, but they are not basic to your three-year-old.

5. Call your child and show her the recipe. Introduce her to the concept of a cookbook. Explain that if you don't know how to make something, you go to a cookbook for instructions. (In this way, she'll learn one of the many ways that reading helps us in our lives.)

6. Wash Hands. Make sure your child washes her hands before any cooking activity. Let her see you wash your hands.

7. Name each ingredient as it is being used. If your child is old enough, have her say the name of the ingredient after you. Don't make it like a test. If she does not remember, tell her.

8. Let your child feel and smell the item you are using.

9. Let your child taste various ingredients.

WARNING: Never let your child taste raw eggs, fish, poultry or meat. These items can be dangerous to your child's (and your) health. When you work with a recipe containing these ingredients, have her taste the ingredients before any of the foods listed above are added.

10. Let your child put in as many ingredients as possible. You can do the measuring and hand your child the cup with the right amount of each item to put into a bowl. If you think it best, hold her hand and guide it to make sure the ingredient makes it into the bowl. Sometimes you can adapt ingredients. A three-year-old can't crack an egg, but the parent can crack the egg, put it into a cup and have the child pour the egg into the batter.

11. Let your child mix the ingredients. Most items need a bit more mixing than a child can manage, but you can have your child start and then you can finish the process. Take turns; first your child and then you, your child and then you.

12. Let your child help you put the food into the oven or into the refrigerator. Discuss with her if you want the food to be hot or cold. Let her touch the food before and after and feel the difference. (Make sure the food is not too hot for her before you let her touch it.)

13. Clean Up. If possible, clean up as soon as possible. Let her see that the rule "clean up after you are finished" also applies to adults. Let her help you.

14. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you don't eat what you make, your child certainly won't want to. While you're eating, discuss what you did. What ingredients did you use? Play a game. See how many ingredients she can remember. Try and see if she remembers what you did first...second...last. Talk about how much fun it was and discuss any problems she might have had.

THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL OF COOKING WITH YOUR CHILD IS TO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY!