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As a young girl, there was nothing
I enjoyed more than cooking with my mom. Her story
is most likely a different one. After a long day of
working, cleaning and answering the endless needs
of three kids, I’m sure the last thing she wanted
to hear was “Can I cut the potatoes? Let me
stir. I want to shape the meatballs.”
Gratefully,
mom knew how to take advantage of these “kitchen”
moments. Each time I asked, she patiently found a
task (both small and large!) that I could do to help
put dinner on the table.
Now
that I cook everyday with children, I can appreciate
mom’s patience and sacrificed time. Here are
a few things I learned along the way about cooking
with kids.
Tips
for Cooking with Kids
Create
a plan and set aside time. No need to be
fancy. Simply jot - on a napkin, scrap paper, etc.
– the recipe and steps to make it. Then, be
sure to block time based on your plan. Always buffer
10-15 minutes for additional hand washing, cleaning
spills, and other unexpected “oops”!
Make
kitchen rules together. Being safe is top
priority when cooking with little chefs. Use a large
piece of paper and work together to create 8-10 kitchen
safety rules. Then, hang it up and review each time
you cook. You can even make a game out of it! Chef
Says (a spin on Simon Says) is a personal favorite
- “Chef Says, point to a grown-up you can cook
with.”
Become
the Sous Chef. Every kitchen needs a Head
Chef and an assistant. Make your child the Head Chef.
While building confidence, it also plays into children’s
natural independent spirit. And that proud “I
did it!” look is the best reward.
Explain
and demonstrate as you go. Kids have shorter
attention spans than (most!) adults. A long cooking
activity without clear transitions is a sure way to
lose her attention. Use your handy-dandy plan to explain
each step as you go. When making cookies, for instance,
say, “First, we are going to measure all the
dry ingredients into this bowl. Can you guess which
are the dry ingredients on the table? After we stir
it up, we’ll read the next step in our recipe.”
As you work through the recipe, always
demonstrate the task – be it measuring, pouring,
stirring, etc. – first. When your child understands
what to do, let him do it and become the Sous Chef.
Expect
a mess. Cooking can be messy business. Turn
those “oops” into teachable moments by
showing your child how to properly clean different
messes.
Make
teachable moments. Kids are smart cookies.
Use your cooking time to reinforce topics they are
learning at home or in school – from math (counting,
fractions) and science (baking chemistry, the milk
process) to culture (food origins) and nutrition (cheese=good
bones).
Encourage
tasting. Don’t force or beg it but
give kids the option to taste each ingredient –
even baking soda! Once they know firsthand there’s
nothing scary in it, children are more likely to eat
the prepared food.
Have
fun! There is a lot to think about while
cooking with kids. Don’t forget the most important…to
share fun cooking experiences. As I do today, your
child will cherish these moments for a lifetime.
The
Chelmsford
Mothers' Club Favorite Family Recipes Cookbook
is now available for purchase. Visit them online
or email them at info@chelmsfordmothersclub.org.
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