Most likely you have some daily chores for your kids to help with. Giving children chores not only helps out the family but to teaches children a few things about real life. Why not let your kids help you cook dinner or a weekend breakfast? Getting your kids in the kitchen and cooking will do them a lot of good. Here are a several benefits of cooking with your child.
The Many Life Long Benefits Of Cooking With Kids
Making Memories
If you think back to your childhood memories you probably have one or two good ones of you and your mother or grandmother in the kitchen cooking. Allowing your children to join you in the kitchen to cook family dinner is a great way to start building memorable moments that your child will grow to cherish later in life. On top of making wonderful memories cooking has a lot of lessons for your child.
Cooking With Your Child Teaches Safety
Working side by side with your child will help them become aware of possible and potential kitchen dangers. Cooking with them at a younger age can insure that possible kitchen dangers can be prevented in the future. Teach them safety tips about using sharp knives, using fire, turning on gas and hot ovens.
Cooking Increases Creativity in Kids-
Cooking is an art form especially when cooking something they are unfamiliar with and it allows for creative juices to flow. There are many colors, textures and tastes, let your children get creative by adding herbs and spices. Who knows you could inspire the next Top Chef?
When Kids Cook it, Kids will Eat it-
Creating a meal with your child will help them eat it. If you have a picky eater, have them help make dinner. Picky eaters that are able to see and handle the food are more likely to eat the finished product. Have fun with it and let your child feel, taste and smell the food. Children want to taste and enjoy their culinary masterpiece and ask for seconds!
Cooking With Kids is A Great Way to Bond-
Cooking with kids a great bonding experience for the whole family. Everyone is in the kitchen helping prepare the evening’s meal and lots of communication and chatter is required. Cooking together is a great way to get you off your work computer and the kids away from the video games. With all the laughs and some cooking mishaps you are creating important family bonds and learning how to work together.
Cooking is a Educational for Kids-
Let your child read and follow the recipe card and explain to them the different numbers and measurements using measuring cups and spoons. Cooking with kids is very educational and it is a great learning tool for teaching children to understand things like fractions, adding and multiplying. Your kids will be learning without even realizing it! It is also a good chance for you to see how much they know and praise their abilities and learning.
Cooking With Kids Teaches Them To Follow Direction
Guiding your kids and having them follow a recipe is a wonderful lesson in paying attention and following directions. Children are full of energy and constantly struggling with focusing when it is time to focus. This is a great way to practice listening and focus on the task at hand. One of the benefits of cooking with your child is that they learn the importance of following directions in a hands on way where the results of not doing so are very obvious.
Cooking with Children Teaches Responsibility-
Cooking a meal comes with a lot of responsibilities. You have to make sure you follow the instructions correctly, use proper safety rules like handling knifes and hot ovens. The children being part of the meal making will give them a sense of importance and they will want to do their best. Start your little chef off small by letting them do things like measure and stir, while teaching them the safety and basics of the kitchen. With each meal you cook, give them more responsibility. Also after the meal, have them help with cleanup. It is great for teaching them a good work ethic and a team spirit.
Cooking With Your Child Is Fun
One of the benefits of cooking with kids is that it is fun! It is a great source of entertainment to try new recipes. Cooking is fun and eating what you prepare with the whole family is even more fun!
Boost Self-Confidence
Teaching a child to cook is very empowering. Now instead of feeling helpless to feed oneself, they will feel proud to be able to feed the family. It is a huge self- confidence builder that will help them as they go to college and when they have their own families to feed. Giving them a cooking foundation as children will help them learn and improve more quickly as adults.
Conclusion
The benefits of cooking with your child are many! So head to the kitchen with your child and grab them a stool. Start your child off small and allow them to work their way up to bigger responsibilities in the kitchen. Not only will cooking with your kids be teaching great lessons but you will also make memories that will last a lifetime. Have fun and happy cooking!
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Source: Parenting - familyfocusblog.com
