What I’m about to say to you is probably going to send your mind into a tailspin or even a panic depending on how OCD you are but, cooking with your kids can be a pleasurable experience. Yes, I said “with” not “for,” and yes, I said “pleasurable” not“painful.” Before you go child-proofing your kitchen, hear me out. I know it’s easier to keep them occupied in some other way while you prepare their meals and knock one more thing off of your to-do list, but I don’t think you realize how much of a learning experience it can be for them and a saving grace it can be for you
down the road. And don’t even get me started on the fact that there’s already an overly popular show that exists around kid chefs! It is one of my favs, by the way.
There are many benefits kids can gain from learning to prepare their own delicious meals. For one, they can learn
Kitchen Safety – By preparing meals with them and showing them step by step what certain kitchen utensils and appliances do and how they work, you’re more likely to avoid those unfortunate stove incidents. I think we’ve all either personally encountered or heard of stories where “don’t touch that!” turned into an ER visit. However, by engaging in a cooking lesson and giving children a hands-on learning experience, they can see how things work and why they have to either handle with caution or avoid altogether.
Learning nutrition – Of course, there’s the FDA food pyramid that exists, but I think we all know by our personal trial and error, that’s not waistline or artery friendly. By prepping their meals, kids can learn what ingredients make up a well-balanced meal, and they can also learn which ones they need to take in or avoid to optimize their nutrition, especially for physical activity.
Math lesson – Oh did I mention you can throw some math in there too? Because, yes, you can! Kids get the opportunity to learn what fractions are really all about by measuring ingredients, portion sizes, etc.
One of the last benefits I want to discuss, and probably one of the most important ones in my eyes is…
Pride – Kids will develop a sense of pride in having the ability to learn to prepare foods not just for themselves, but others too. Not only will they feel a sense of accomplishment but they are more likely to try and explore new foods because they’ve been hands-on in the process.
As you can see, cooking with your kids doesn’t have to be the kitchen disaster you probably envisioned when I first mentioned it. I apologize for that initial shock by the way, and to prove my point to you, I’m offering for you to join my son and me this Saturday, August 8th, at 10 am, as we cook one of his favorite foods from scratch…PIZZA. Yes, everyone in your family can join in and the best part is it is virtual. So you can have as much fun as you want in your space and the kids begin to feel comfortable in their space and perhaps may be more willing to try it outside of the “classroom” with your permission of course. And who knows you may get a better mother’s day or father’s day breakfast than burnt toast and runny or overcooked eggs. Click here for more info and to register. Click here to view our other kid-centered cooking classes in August. I can’t wait to see you there!
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