Cooking With Children is Fun
Cooking with childre is fun - most kids adore mixing, stirring smelling, spreading, puring, measuring, grating, tasting ... the list is endless.
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!
Tips for Cooking with Kids
Safety first.
Keep younger children away from a hot stove and sharp knives. Even very young children will want to put the flour in the mixing bowl or break an egg. Turn the mixer off and let them do it.
Choose simpler recipes and quicker recipes for young kids.
Children love to get their hands in the dough. Consider using a recipe where the biscuits are hand-formed.
Praise often even if the product isn't perfect.
When a mess happens, take it in your stride and don't blame anyone. If accidents occur (and they will) don't over dramatise, just help clean up quickly and carry on as normal. They will learn from their mistakes.
Use the recipe to teach life skills.
Help your child read and interpret the directions. Learning to follow written instructions is an important life skill. Help the child understand the fractions found in most recipes - add half a cup of raisins, and quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon....
Two-year-olds
This age group is learning to use the large muscles in their arms. They will enjoy activities such as:
- scrubbing vegetables and fruits
- wiping tables
- dipping vegetables and fruits
- tearing lettuce and salad greens
- breaking bread into crumbs
- snapping fresh beans
Three-year-olds
These children are learning to use their hands. Try activities such as:
- pouring liquids into a batter
- mixing muffin batter
- shaking a milk drink
- spreading peanut butter on firm bread (this will be messy!)
- kneading bread dough
Four- and five-year-olds
Children of this age are learning to control smaller muscles in their fingers. Offer them experiences such as:
- rolling bananas in cereal for a snack
- juicing oranges, lemons, and limes
- mashing soft fruits and vegetables
- measuring dry and liquid ingredients
- beating eggs with an eggbeater
REMEMBER
- Good cooks of all ages always wash their hands before cooking.
- Tell children to wait until the dish is done before sampling it. This will help prevent illness.
- Expect spills and messes.
- Children have short attention spans. Give them quick, simple jobs, and give instructions one at a time.
- Children get excited and forget. Repeat directions as often as needed.
- Young cooks need constant supervision.
- Give children jobs to help with cleanup.
|
