Inviting your children to cook with you from a young age is a great way to get them excited about wholesome, nutritious foods. If you are worried about hot ovens or difficult-to-handle ingredients, don't be! There are several kid-friendly dishes that you can follow to make cooking in the kitchen with your kids a success.
Not only is cooking with your children fun, but it can also be used as a great teaching opportunity. While it may not seem as so, cooking requires valuable math, reading and motor skills. Working on these skills with your children in a fun environment will only add to their learning process. If you'd like to try cooking with your kids this summer, take a few minutes to read the following tips and tricks that will help you turn kitchen time into family time.
When it comes to cooking with kids, there are a few "do's and don'ts" that should be considered before busting out the recipe book. Here are a few of the most valuable tips we've learned along the way.
Cooking with Children “Dos”
Do Prepare for a Mess
When cooking with kids, anything and everything that can be messy will be—and that's okay! Remember, you want this to be a fun experience for your children. By mentally preparing for a mess beforehand, you can identify areas of a recipe that might be "too" messy. If you feel that there is a part of a recipe, your child might make a mess of, you can choose to complete that task yourself. But remember, a little chaos is okay. Cracking eggs, stirring ingredients and sifting flour are all messy but fun tasks for your children to tackle. Just make sure you have cleaning supplies ready to wipe up the spills!
Do Choose Kid-Friendly Recipes
While a bit of a mess is okay, remember to choose kid-friendly recipes. When choosing a recipe to make with your kids, find one that is age-appropriate. Older children might be ready for more complicated recipes with specific, measured out ingredients. While toddles might enjoy helping you make baked goods like these Easy Sugar Cookies With Maple Frosting. Knowing which basic cooking tasks your child is ready for will help you determine the best dish to make.
Do Make It Fun
Lastly, remember to make cooking fun! Recipes with bright ingredients, frostings and fun toppings keep your child engaged throughout the cooking process. From choosing the ingredients to mixing the batter, involving your child in the entire cooking process, will help them feel like a true chef.
For a quick and colorful kid-friendly recipe, enlist your children's help to make this vibrant Unicorn Smoothie!
Cooking in the Kitchen “Don'ts”
Don’t Make It Complicated
Choosing recipes that have a long list of ingredients or use advanced cooking techniques may be a bit too complex for a young chef. For a successful kid-friendly kitchen experience, keep things easy! When cooking with your kids, it's best to start with the basics. Once you've tackled simple recipes like this Easy Tapioca Pudding, you can move on to more complicated ones.
Don’t Expect Them to Get It Right the First Time
When baking with little ones, don't expect everything to go perfectly. Flour may be spilled, and sugar might end up on the floor. But, no matter how messy the process gets, we guarantee that you'll make great memories. To help things run as smoothly as possible, we recommend reading the recipe beforehand and establishing a working order. Setting up "dry" and "wet" ingredient stations is a great way to create structure. Plus, by designating specific spaces for these ingredients, you can help confine the mess.
For a no-fail healthy recipe to try with your kids, start by making Easy Overnight Oats. Is this recipe, all the ingredients are combined into one jar and then refrigerated overnight—no baking required!
Don’t Do the Work for Them
When cooking with your kids, try not to do all the work for them. While it may be easier, your children won't learn that way. Remember, learning how to cook is a valuable life skill. While getting together in the kitchen as a family is a great way to make memories, it's also a time to teach your children skills that they can take with them into adulthood.
Whether you're hoping to spend more time with your children or inspire their inner chef, we hope this article helps you successfully get your little ones into the kitchen. There are many different ways to create a fun cooking experience with your kids. For more tips and tricks on how to create a thriving kitchen environment for your little ones, check out these tips on successfully baking with kids.
Have a kid-friendly cooking tip you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Let us know your favorite tips in the comments below! From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy cooking!
