Can your kids cook?

Question

I ask this in the light of statistics saying we cook less now and children dont learn at their mums apron strings anymore.

I learnt by watching my mum from an early age and I cook well. My son has been making salads and experimenting since he was 6. At 11, he can now make a mean macaroni cheese or spag bol (with me in the kitchen too of course)

Harrypotter040..I used to to that at about 13/14..My mum used to have to clear up though and it took her all evening!!

Dec...Your on the right road sweetie, keep going, your doing a terrific job!

cflynn..I agree totally about the domestic science lessons, they were part of my growing up and I learnt a lot!

Answer 1

I am 25 and my children (2.5 yrs boy and 5 yrs girl) help me in the kitchen with putting things in bowls as i cut them and help stirring things. my daughter has recently just made her first lot of scrambled eggs, with supervision obvioulsy. its so dead easy and quick to make.
my mum taught me to cook well and we were always helping her from the age we could sit on the kitchen bench and pick things up. I was cooking a dinner for the family at age 10.
My daughter can make herself a sandwich or toast and pours cereal for herself in the morning. Basics like that. packs her own lunch (with a side check from me before it goes in the school bag!)

I intend on teaching my children, yes my son too, to cook a good meal not necessarily because I want my daughter to be a good little housewife but because healthy eating and good body image start from knowing how to prepare and cook good food. I want them to have a healthy appreciation of cooking for others and enjoying good food.

I do believe a lot of people just can't be bothered to make a meal and therefore their kids wouldn't know a pot from a fry pan. Its a shame really. what happened to families sitting down to a meal together in the evenings? Those apron strings can be a good thing!!

Answer 2

Unfair? Are you kidding? Let's just hope your kids are mentally well enough to not already have they're own hang ups about cooking by now. The one is 18 for crying out loud! That "kid" is an adult by law; can be drafted into the service, can get married without your consent, can vote, can live on their own, legally anyway (this is all assuming you're in the U.S. of course). Also, the 12 year old surely has the physical and mental ability to cook food assuming they are a healthy normal 12 year old. All that you are doing by not letting your children cook food is handing your problem over to them; ie. you are "teaching" them to have the exact same problem you have. It's the same thing when parents pass on other, more typical, yet still unreasonable fears to their children; such as: fear of dogs, spiders, snakes, flying, etc., etc. If parents demonstrate these irrational fears to their children, they are just teaching them by their actions that being afraid of these things is correct behavior which is totally unfair to them.

Answer 3

I learn ed to cook with my mum starting with bits of pastry from her pies. I very soon moved on to making cakes and my own jam tarts, I was also making cups of tea by the time I was 7 which is something you wouldn't necessarily do now!!! I learned to cook alsorts of meals and food because my mum cooked and we were to a degree expected to help. My brother learnt the same and is a fab cook now. My own children make toast, sandwiches, cakes and jam tarts, they help to prep food and lay the table ready for a meal. They are interested because I cook when they are around and they can see how it is done. As they get older, they are only 5 and 7 at the moment, they will help more.

Answer 4

I dont have kids BUT, I was an only child until I was ten and way before then I watched my mom and dad cook and learned on my own. I was cooking before I could see over the stove. Id pull up chairs and go to town. Now I can make anything and everything!

Answer 5

I dont have children because i am one. im a 14 year old boy and i can cook and my sister who is 3 often helps my mum make salds or cut vegetables (with a blunt knife!!! :) ). Even though she obviously cant cook she is learning basics and getting confidence in the kitchen, so yes some children, such as myself and my two sisters, can cook properly, or atleast try and learn to cook simple things

Answer 6

Yes, my daughter is very interested in cooking and has gone so far as to ask me to send her to a class (she's 10). She likes cooking with me but prefers to do it herself.

Before I had kids, I couldn't boil water. But I was determined to live a healthy lifestyle so I taught myself. I started by making my baby's food, then worked my way up through sauces, soups, meat and vegetarian main dishes. I'm now attempting to learn some fish recipes. For the most part my family loves my cooking but I tend to get adventurous which they really don't appreciate (yet)!

Answer 7

I'm a 14 year old boy and I've been cooking 1/3 of the meals since my mom started kimo (sp?) I've been cooking since I was about 12. my brother doesn't cook. lol that would be nasty to taste his cooking he's 16 my sisters are in college now but the cook the rest of the meals. but most of my friends can't cook..

Answer 8

My oldest (25) is a cook now. My 15 year old will be soon, and my daughter can Make bacon and fried eggs, Top Ramen (her favorite), she loves to help out with dinner since my husband is also a cook. Seems to be running in the family.

Answer 9

I don't have kids, but my sister does, 5,7 and 11, and they always cook when they come to visit me! it's a great way to get kids to eat things they don't like, or even haven't tried before - it's amazing what veg they'll eat if it's gone on top of a pizza they've made - and it needn't be junk food if you use good ingredients.
They love bashing the hell out of bread dough, making cakes and then decorating them. Even better if they 'grow' some of the ingredients too - cress, herbs - and the most important message of all is HAND WASHING FIRST!!!

Answer 10

I taught my children to cook from a very early age. They are all adults now so I have started to teach my grandchildren. In my day all girls had domestic science lessons, not only were we taught to cook but also household management and how to wash, iron. clothes. Once they removed this from the curriculum it all went down hill. In todays busy life style many parents just don't have the time to teach their children.