Kids love cooking. At least every kid I've met. But the thing is, parents don't always like cooking with them, because it takes more time and makes more mess and sometimes it feels like it isn't worth it. But it is. The skills the kids learn and the fun times they have are worth all the mess. But if you can do it in a way to cause as few issues as possible, that's the best. These tips from a reader might help you out so your cooking time with your kids can be as pleasant as possible for everyone.
Children find kitchens to be fascinating. They regularly notice the grown-ups working there briskly. Many kids have the habit of smelling what is on the menu for lunch, and they find it intriguing to see the steam rising from the pots on your stove. You may see even the older kids get intrigued by the coming together of the baked goods and the meals. Of course, we understand that it may not always be convenient for you to invite your children to the kitchen, but you should do it whenever time allows.
Younger kids always like to watch what you are doing. They even want to help out with small tasks, such as stirring the lentils or helping you set the table. If you have older kids, you can teach them how to measure the ingredients or crack open the eggs. At times, kids get excited if you tell them to pick their favorite dish that they would want to eat, and then you can make it together with them.
Even though this may be a fun drill for you and the kids, it can bring a good deal of benefits.
Mahira, an educator who offers finance homework help to students, says that my daughter is a preschooler, and she always feels so intrigued looking at how I put together different ingredients to make a dish. When young kids see their parents cooking in the kitchen, they get hands-on experience, which is indeed an excellent way for them to learn. Moreover, just being around you in the kitchen, stirring things, or passing you the utensils gives them a feeling of pride because they feel as if they are helping you out in the kitchen.
School going kids can learn some cooking basics from you, and they can use their math skills to combine different ingredients in a particular proportion to complete the recipe. You can also use this cooking time to tell them about good food and nutrition. When you add a particular ingredient to a dish, you can tell them about this ingredient's health benefits. It can be a good motivator for them to want to eat healthily.
Teens, too, will appreciate this chance to cook with you. It will help them prepare for their college or university days when they will live in a hostel and may have to cook for themselves. Teens are more experimental. They will have their taste, and they may always want to try new things. Jenny, an educator who offers economics homework help services, says that her son loved Authentic Asian food, so the two of them always go to this Asian market to pick the ingredients and prepare Asian meals on weekends.
Parents, too, will earn something out of this kitchen time together. Firstly, the two of you will get to bond over cooking and spend some quality time together, and secondly, there is always pleasure in sitting at the dining and eating what the two of you have created together.
However, with kids in the kitchen, safety risks are high. Here we have come up with some safety tips that will help you while you cook with your child.
Pick the right time
Now, if you invite your kids to cook with you in the kitchen, you cannot be time-pressed. You need to understand that they are new to this, so you should not pick a day when you are already tight on schedule. The best thing you can do is let them help you on the weekend or a holiday when you have an off day. It will ensure that you do not feel quite crunched.
Farah, an accounting assignment help provider, says that she has a young daughter of 5 years, and the two of them get together in the kitchen only on the days when she is well-rested to ensure that she does not lose her patience and is not frustrated easily. It may also be a good idea to have your partner in the kitchen oversee your child to ensure that they do not get hurt.
Pick the right tasks
When you decide to have them cook with you, you need to plan ahead of time. For younger children, you can consider starting with simple dishes t hat have less than five ingredients. In this manner, your child will not have to wait to understand a complicated step. Jiah, who offers the best online excel courses says that the first recipe she taught her son was nothing but a tossed salad. Well, if not that, you can also pick some easy cookie or muffin recipes or maybe a beverage. You can also set up a pizza-making assembly line, wherein you and your child can choose their sauces, crusts, toppings, and cheeses. However, if you have older kids, you can take up a more challenging recipe.
Whenever you select a recipe, you need to decide which steps they can do on their own. For instance, if your child can read, you can have them read the recipe card while you accumulate all the ingredients on the kitchen counter. On the other hand, if you have an older child, you can measure the ingredients and add them unassisted.
When you do this prep work in advance, the process moves along more smoothly. If you think a task is taking time, you can give your child a break and call them back when things are ready or when there is another child-friendly task that they can undertake by themselves.
Safety is pivotal
When a child is in the kitchen, they need continuous supervision. Preschoolers need to be taught not to touch the electric beaters, hot pans, whirring, and stovetops, states Jennifer, an associate with FineGrades.
Some safety tips that can help
1. Give them frequent reminders about why it is not okay for them to touch hot things and which all items can hurt them.
2. Tell them which tasks are meant for them and which should only be done by grown-ups.
3. Teach them some kitchen rules, such as not touching the knives or the stove knobs and washing the hands before cooking.
Even older children will need reminders when working with knives and appliances or around the stove.