Cooking with kids can be wonderful and fun. It can also be daunting. It’s definitely more work (and mess) to have kids help us in the kitchen then if we simply do it ourselves. And yet there are so many wonderful benefits from having our kids cook with us. It’s amazing how helping prepare food connects children to what they are eating and fosters an understanding of food and how it nourishes us. I’ve also found that seeing the joy my children (and the children in my classes) get from even the simplest tasks reminds me of the joy in cooking…that I sometimes forget that when I’m up to my eyeballs in the everyday. Here are my top ten tips for cooking with kids:
1. Resolve that there will be messes. Kid sized aprons and a pile of kitchen towels at the ready can help with this.
2. When making a more complicated dish, set up the ingredients ahead of time. Prepping a little will help things flow smoother once little hands get in the mix. For example set out ingredients, pans, bowls and spoons.
3. Have some extra of an ingredient or snacks that the kids can munch on. It can be hard for them not to eat everything before the final product is ready.
4. Have extra spoons for licking, that way you don’t have to worry about the dreaded “double dip”.
5. Don’t wait for a special occasion. Even if it’s just a simple part of an everyday meal, like tossing a salad. Kids will feel so proud you trusted them to help.
6. When you can, ask them what they want to make. Sometimes they may say chocolate covered spaghetti but many times they will have great ideas. I have started asking my five year old for ideas when I am meal planning and I love the ideas she comes up with. Plus when it’s on her plate and she gives it a funny look I just say “wow what a great idea you had planning this meal” which usually results in her loving it.
7. One word: washing. Let them help with washing fruits and vegetables. You will be amazed at how clean their hands will get in the process, win win.
8. Let them cut! Okay, I am not suggesting you hand your three year old a carrot and butcher knife and say “go at it” but children age three and up have developed the fine motor skills to begin early knife skills. Have them cut soft things with a plastic knife or a dull butter knife. I guarantee they will impress you (and possibly terrify you).
9. Measuring cups to the rescue. Even on easy recipes when you may not normally use one they can be very helpful for kids, giving them control of adding ingredients (and you get bonus points for teaching them math).
10. Let them know it’s okay to make mistakes in the kitchen. I began telling the kids in my classes this after I observed how much pressure most of them felt to do things perfect and exact. I often tell the story of one class I taught a few years back where a giant hunk of butter flew out of the mixer and hit the wall, landing with a splat on the floor…causing the entire classroom to burst into laughter (including myself). Yet it was not a crisis, we got more butter and our recipe turned out great!
*I still have room at this Saturday’s Petite Chefs: Valentine Snacks class for ages 5-12. Click HERE to register.
There is also room in next Saturday’s Bebe Chefs: Valentine Snacks class for ages 2-6. Click HERE to register.
Great tips Tara! I remember learning to follow recipes when I was very small. I know my 8 year old would love to spend more time cooking. Hopefully I can implement these tips and give her more independence in the kitchen.
Thanks Gail!!