Cooking with Kids?

Question

I am planning to write an article about cooking with kids and would like to know why people think cooking with kids is or isn't beneficial, fun, interesting, etc. What is your opinion?

I am enjoying reading your responses so much. I will probably use some of your ideas and comments in an article I am writing for my website Please let me know if you have any objection.

Here is my site: http://www.susancooks.com

Answer 1

I enjoy cooking with children. It helps them learn math and science. It helps them learn and understand new words, such as 'fold'. They get to explore and that in itself is fun for them. It is interesting to watch my grandsons. I have a rule that they must taste every ingredient they want to use. They get to do 97% of everything. All I do, is help with the pouring (from heavy items only)the older child is allowed to do the actual cooking, but the younger one is still to young, and show them where on the measuring cup 1/3 cup is located, and handle hot pans. I advise only as seriously needed.
My grandsons are 6 and 3 years old. They love coming over and cooking dinner. Also everything at my house in made from scratch. My 3 year old, has almost got making biscuits down. It also gives them a love of cooking. And they learn safety and responsibility in the kitchen. They know to clean, clean, clean, to wast their hands every time they work with a new ingredient. It is just fun. My 6 year grandson will be receiving his own set of Chef's knifes this christmas. (My daughter says they have to stay at my house, as she doesn't know how to teach him safety or how to use/care for them).

As long as the adult has patience, time, and don't mind the food 'not' being 'perfect', and also knows how to cook themselves, I encourage them cooking with children. Also remember this...we can still learn from children in the kitchen as well if we let them try things they think will be good.

Answer 2

Cooking with kids is a wonderful idea. As a parent and educator there aren't too many downfalls. I will explain my process. We call it eating in and out. By the way she's 6.

1. We first choose a different country, culture, area, etc. and we get pretty specific and find a recipe. Then we look at the history of the recipe. Last week she learned what halal was. Honestly so did I.
2. I make a budget that seems reasonable, but will take some reasoning for her and we go to the supermarket to find the food for the recipe. I do give her a calculator. Uses hand eye coordination, math skills, budgeting skills and she knows her way around a grocery store.
3. Then we come home and get out all of the things we will need for the recipe. She knows how to measure, just a few weeks ago I took the 1/2 c. measuring cup out so she would have to use 2 1/4 c. It's a simple math skill, but it's working.
4. Then we cook. Carefully, but it helps with her telling time. We have to stir every 10 minutes. It has to bake for 20 minutes. When is it going to be 20 minutes.
5. Then we eat. One thing I have to say is at least she'll try the food. A lot of kids are picky eaters, but I find if she cooks it she'll at least taste. If I make something that isn't the right color she might lick the fork to taste it. Now it's not always good, nomatter what we do Korean food is just not for us. Then we order in. We even make her a part of the process. We already spent this much money on food we can only spend this much more. What would we like in our budget. Again with the calculator and menues. We pretty much are ready to attack the delivery guy when he gets here from hunger.

Cooking with kids teaches them reasoning, math, decion making, historical skills, etc. It is what you make it. And the best part about it's family time. It's something our family expects to happen. Sometimes it's mommy who spends the time others it's daddy. And sometimes we do it all together. We just make sure that we make the choice and eat as a group. In the time where parents have to work, some are in school, the kids have school, loads of homework, and all the activities they need to make them "normal" it's a really nice time to slow down.

Answer 3

Cooking with kids is always beneficial. I'm a firm believer in exposing kids to as many positive activities as possible. Parents have to realize that it takes some understanding of their children, ages,attention spans, that sort of stuff. Kids that like to help in the kitchen would enjoy a project with Mom or Dad- making cookies or a dish for dinner. Kids that aren't interested could still benefit by being included with jobs to help a project (reading a recipe,finding and getting out all the ingredients, learning about turning the oven on and setting temperatures). It's a good time for parents to teach safety around the kitchen. Good luck with the article.

Answer 4

As adults, we can learn so much from children while cooking... they can be so carefree and delightful in the kitchen. They're not afraid to try and put two flavours together and they laugh when they taste their creation and it leaves something to be desired. I think all the great Chefs have the same carefree attitude, "let's try this and see". Sometimes it works out amazingly and sometimes... not so great. But you can't create something new without trying something new and that's the problem with a lot of people's cooking, they're just afraid to try new things, afraid they're going to ruin something.

Kids also get so much out of it. Not only are they gaining a life skill which they truly will need until the day they die, but they learn math, a lot of math. Wow, when I went to culinary arts school I hadn't realised how much math there is involved with cooking, because I just did it naturally. Now when cooking with kids, I always purposely pick recipes that I want to double, halve, quarter etc in order to get the kids working their "math minds".

Ok, so you have a bigger mess to clean up, sometimes the recipes aren't perfect but you've just spent some time with a child, teaching them and nurturing them... what could be better?

Answer 5

I believe that children should be taught at an early age about cooking and the dangers in the kitchen to make them not only knowledgeable but also cautious on how things work and the injuries that can occur if someone is not careful. I also think that a child needs to know about the nutrition guide, this way they can be their own judge on what sort of food there is available ,and also the one ones to be avoiding.

Answer 6

Most of the cooking with kids stuff is about teaching kids to work in the kitchen and also based on the premise if they help make it they'll be more likely to eat it. Honestly I don't know that this is true, when my children were little they would happily help make stuff then refuse to eat it if it was something they'd not liked in the past. They just thought it was fun to play with mommy's toys. I do think having them help the earlier the better is good for them , even though it usually just makes things harder for you when they are little. If nothing else, someday they'll be fending for themselves. Even if they're rich enough to hire a cook, I would think you need to know what's right to know how to judge their work.

Answer 7

Unfair? Are you kidding? enable's only wish your infants are mentally nicely adequate to no longer already have they are very own cling united statesapproximately cooking by using now. the only is eighteen for crying out loud! That "baby" is an grownup by using regulation; would be drafted into the provider, can get married devoid of your consent, can vote, can stay to tell the tale their very own, legally besides (it extremely is all assuming you're interior the U.S. of course). additionally, the 12 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous actually has the actual and psychological means to cook dinner nutrition assuming they seem to be a healthful known 12 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous. All which you're doing by using no longer letting your infants cook dinner nutrition is handing your issue over to them; ie. you're "coaching" them to have the marvelous comparable issue you have. it is the comparable factor while father and mom bypass on different, greater popular, yet nonetheless unreasonable fears to their infants; which contain: worry of canine, spiders, snakes, flying, etc., etc. If father and mom exhibit those irrational fears to their infants, they are only coaching them by using their movements that being hectic of those issues is right habit that's punctiliously unfair to them.

Answer 8

1. They feel included in an essential family activity and part of the solution!

2. They love to learn how to do things for themselves. Rolling out pie crust is a lot more challenging than rolling out Play Doh.

3. They take pride (real self esteem!) in contributing to their family using their "skills".

Our four-year old loves to help make weekend breakfasts, learned to crack open eggs and measure flour at age two and takes real pride in being the cook's assistant. She helps find mixing bowls and utensils, scrapes down batter, "washes" everything in the sink and is in charge of all cut-out cookies.

Fine motor skills are refined by spreading frosting, pouring liquids and arranging vegetables on a platter, for example.

There's a lot for kids to do in the kitchen that doesn't involve heat and knives!

Answer 9

cooking with kids is very fun and beneficial. It give you time to bond with the child and it also helps kids learn things like counting (eggs, scoops, etc.) helps themlearn to measure and when the cookies or what ever you are making is done it gives them a great sense of accompishment to be able to share their 'masterpiece' with others.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Wizardry-Kids-Kenda-Williams/dp/0812044096
is a great book to teach kids about cooking and science in the kitchen.
I grew up cooking with my mom and those are some of my fondest memories. I now cook all the time with my niece and nephew.

Good Luck with your article.

Answer 10

YES, it's wonderful!

Teaches kid real-life skills they never forget.
Teaches math (try doublign or halving a recipe w/ franctions in it).
Teaches food science (why to fold in things, why to beat other things)
Sense of satisfaction when eating results
Encourages them to be more willing to try new foods if they helped cook it.

My kids are 2 years apart, and I can hardly cook with both together.... too competitive. But one at a time is great.