Cooking with Kids On a Cold or Rainy Day
Needing something to do on a cold or rainy day? Try cooking with your kids. Kids love to get their hands dirty, experiment with new things, and enjoy eating treats they make. Don’t be afraid to stand back and let them take the lead. Messes can always go away, but the memories will last a lifetime. In this article I will show you where to start, how to let kids take the lead, using teachable moments, and when to supervise.
Where to start?
Let the kids take the lead and decide on what to cook. We used the Betty Crocker Bridal Edition Cookbook because that is what we had at home, however, there are lots of kids’ cookbooks available or you can go online to find picture recipes. Not ready to cook with the stove or the oven? Try a simple spreading recipe with no heat ingredients. Some of our favorites to try are listed below:
Picture Recipes from Pre-Kpages.com
Non-reader recipes from Kids-cooking-activites.com
Let the kids take the lead
Kids can have ideas that are just as good as adults. Let them choose what to cook. Today, Morgan chose to make peanut butter cookies. Letting kids take the lead often results in building confidence and self-esteem. Kids don’t need to hear the word “no” constantly. They need to feel that their voice is valued too.
Teachable moments
Teachable moments happen when you least expect it. Kids need to learn what we often take for granted.
Yes, there is a difference in granulated sugar and brown sugar. Two kinds of sugar?? What??
Today, Morgan learned that the ½ cup symbol in the cookbook match the ½ cup symbol on the measuring cup. She doesn’t quite understand the concept of fractions yet (those are still being taught), but she found her own way to read a recipe correctly.
Cooking teaches math, science, reading, mechanical skills, and necessary household skills that kids will need later in life. By learning these skills early, kids will be more likely to become independent and successful adults.
A little supervision helps
Kids need to feel confident, but they don’t need to feel alone. I was not about to give my six-year-old a cookbook and send her into the kitchen just yet. I stood back and let her have her independence, but I was also there to help her turn on the mixer and put the cookies in the oven (she is a pro-egg cracker). She asked for help when she needed it, not when I thought she did. The result was self-confidence. She now thinks she is ready to cook breakfast.
Final thoughts
Cooking can be family fun. It helps boost self-confidence in children and teaches them independence. Kids need to learn to take the lead and feel like they contribute to the family too. An adult might now think peanut butter cookies are not a big deal, but to our kids those cookies can mean the world. As you go through your day remember… Life’s Short… Take the Trip! What goodies will you be cooking up with your kids?
