Cooking offers children a variety of learning experiences. It’s a practical way to teach kids basic life skills. Time spent together in the kitchen also encourages interaction and communication between you and your child.
- Choose a time that suits you and your child. Over the weekend or during holidays usually works best.
- Be prepared; before you get started take time to read the recipe yourself and get all the necessary ingredients. Preparation is key.
- Save time by weighing/chopping ingredients in advance.
- Start small and keep it fun, children may lose interest quickly.
- Choose the right tasks for the right age group. For younger children start with basic recipes and manageable tasks.
- Allow mistakes and exercise patience. Prepare for a little extra mess.
- Praising children boosts their confidence. Emphasise positive, specific things they are doing. “You’re doing a great job stirring that sauce” “Wow you’re so good at measuring out the flour”.
- Offer guidance and help rather than taking over the task. “Would you like me to help you with this?”
- Even when the end results are not what you expected, praise their efforts and tuck in with gusto!
