You’ve probably experienced an over-eager child who wants to help cook or bake in the kitchen. “Please, mommy, let me crack the egg.
“I want to knead the bread!”
Although it can easily become a stressful situation that creates more work for you, there are several reasons it’s worthwhile to do it, and ways to limit the stress before you begin.
The Importance of Cooking with Your Children
Working in the kitchen with your son or daughter can have a huge benefit for their learning and development.
Apart from the traditional appeal of using baking to help your child grasp the concept of fractions and other mathematical functions, there are a myriad other skills he or she can learn.
From language development as you teach your little assistant new words, to increasing the child’s fine motor skills, and encouraging a scientific approach as the youngster observes how various substances and tools interact to create interesting results, your son or daughter will constantly be learning.
Working alongside you in the kitchen will also help to improve the child’s focus as she or he begins to recognize the importance of order of operations, and setting timers for specific tasks and recipes.
These benefits may all contribute to mastering the vital life-skill of knowing how to cook.
Plenty of kids leave home without this ability and become dependent on less-than-nutritious, processed commercial foods and meals.
By teaching them this skill in their youth, you will benefit them, their health, and the potential health of their children for years to come.
How to Limit Stress
When one cooks with children, it is essential to take a deep breath.
Yes, your kitchen will probably end up significantly more dirty and require further effort to clean, but this can also serve as a potential lesson for your youngster as you demonstrate the importance of cleaning up and how to do it well.
It also teaches them the consequences of spills and wrong steps, so they’ll do a better job of avoiding them in the future.
It’s critical to eliminate as many distractions as possible. Put away any unnecessary extra items on your counter so they don’t get tangled with whatever you’re making.
If you are baking, kneading dough, rolling out cookies, etc., your diamond ring worth $15,000 0should be put away in a safe place, otherwise it may become a tempting plaything for the child.
Pieces of jewelry can distract your assistant chef from the task at hand, and potentially lead to lost or significantly soiled pieces due to your son or daughter’s sweet, curious, and inquiring fingers.
Another facet to consider are the time constraints when baking or cooking with your child.
If you are on a fairly tight schedule, baking with a youngster may become too stressful, and should be avoided.
If time is not an issue, however, expand the estimated time to complete the task, because baking with children is obviously going to take longer than usual.
Have the Right Tools
Having the right tools for your child to help cook with you is also critical.
An adult cook may not require certain kitchen utensils because you have a more practiced hand, but when baking with a child, certain tools may help make the task easier and more successful.
Chopping vegetables or fruits? There are child-safer knives that are smaller and easier to handle.
Start off with easier, softer fruits and vegetables until the little chef becomes more efficient and confident in his or her ability to wield a knife.
For tougher vegetables, you might decide to invest in a vegetable chopper. Not only will this be a safer, more effective tool for your youthful assistant, but it will also increase your own cooking efficiency.
Other tools to consider are egg strainer spoons for separating egg whites, step stools, child aprons, and no-slip bowls.
Conclusion
Remember, baking or cooking with your child is a worthwhile function of their development and should be encouraged.
Enjoy this precious time with your little one, take a deep breath, and choose to treasure this time.
Their curiosity and desire to spend time with you in the kitchen will only increase if you allow it, but can be greatly stymied if not properly nourished.
By limiting additional stressors and investing in the right tools to promote independence and learning in the kitchen, you can ensure your son or daughter will be well on the way to becoming an asset, not a hindrance, in the kitchen.