I don’t homeschool my daughter, but if I did I would definitely make cooking an integral part of the curriculum. The holiday season has given us the chance to not only make merry in the kitchen, but it has also afforded us a bevy of educational opportunities.
Cooking with kids is the gateway to a litany of hands-on lessons, including:
*Nutrition
*Communication
*Reading
*Math
*Learning about other cultures
*Patience
*Sharing
*Personal hygiene
Kids also get to fine tune their motor skills helping out with various recipes. What’s more, since the kitchen is the heart of the home, kids get to learn in a stress-free environment where conversation and laughter flow freely.
Another bonus with cooking is that recipes can be tailored to fit the age of the child. For example, if you are working with a preschooler, forgo elaborate menu items and instead allow him to help with the following simple tasks:
*Pour liquids
*Add dry ingredients
*Stir, mix, or beat ingredients
*Wash and tear salad greens
*Assemble pizza (with a store-bought crust)
*Decorate their cupcakes, cakes
*Spread peanut butter, cream cheese, whipped cream, and other easy-spread items
*Cut soft items, such as bananas, with a butter knife
*Set the table
*Help clean up
If you are cooking with school age children, then allow them a little more freedom with the following jobs:
*Reading recipes
*Measuring wet and dry ingredients
*Peel vegetables
*Operate the microwave
*Open canned goods
*Stir items on the stove
*Set kitchen timer
Regardless of the age of the child, it is important that you teach him or her about proper kitchen safety. Lessons about using oven mitts and potholders can be taught to kids of all ages. Likewise, young children should also be taught the correct way to handle knives and can openers. Kids should also learn the importance of cleaning up kitchen spills and staying away from hot ovens. Finally, young cooks should be taught that running, jumping, and rough housing in the kitchen is not allowed.
Do you cook with your kids during the holiday season?
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