School’s out! If you have kids at home—or if you want to enjoy time with a niece, a nephew, grandkids, or young friends—why not share kitchen time this summer?
Kitchen experiences teach kids all kinds of facts (about foods and science) and skills (measuring, counting, reading, following directions). Kitchen time helps develop self-confidence, independence, self-esteem (“I made it!”), curiosity, and responsibility.
All that—and cooking is a great way to share time together!
Today, plan fun kitchen time with kids.
- Start with hand and table washing.
- Match tasks to the child’s abilities. Preschoolers can stir, pour, and shake, and, as they develop, spread, mix, and knead. With supervision, school-age kids also can measure, cut, and grate.
- Show safety. Teach young children to stay away from sharp objects and hot surfaces and utensils. Help older kids use appliances safely with supervision.
- Try to teach just one skill at a time.
- Talk about tastes, smells, textures, sounds, what they see.
- Accept messes. Kids don’t have the coordination and skills that you have.
- Make cleanup part of learning. Cleanup is part of the messy, creative things we do.
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