| Kids of all ages love to help in the kitchen. It's a great | | | | 2. Talk about the importance of washing hands |
| family activity and it fosters confidence and a sense | | | | thoroughly before you start cooking. You'll also want to |
| of purpose as each child contributes to family life. Plus, | | | | talk about the importance of washing hands after |
| your kids will be learning skills that they will draw upon | | | | touching certain food items, such as raw meat. |
| throughout their lives. | | | | 3. Start with a recipe you know by heart, or ask your |
| Here are six important guidelines to follow as you help | | | | child to choose a simple recipe from a cookbook that |
| your children learn to cook. | | | | you can work on together. Start by taking out all the |
| 1. It's important to emphasize safety first for all kids in | | | | ingredients to make sure you have everything on hand. |
| the kitchen. Determine beforehand what kinds of jobs | | | | 4. Make cooking a whole-brain learning experience. |
| will be appropriate for your children's ages. If your child | | | | When kids are in the kitchen, they are also getting a |
| has to stand on a stool or a chair to reach the stove, | | | | chance to use what they know about fractions as well |
| he or she is too young to cook. Start young children | | | | as to experiment with chemistry. Ask them questions |
| with jobs that are far away from dangerous kitchen | | | | to draw on what they have learned in school. |
| items. Young kids can set and clear the table, hunt | | | | Encourage them to experiment with different |
| down ingredients, add ingredients, and stir and mix to | | | | ingredients and to go beyond the recipe if they think |
| their heart's content. | | | | they can improve upon it. |
| Children should also know your rules about handling | | | | 5. Prepare for a mess. Every kid has broken a few |
| knives and other sharp kitchen instruments before you | | | | dishes in the kitchen, so assume that it's going to |
| begin to cook. Let your kids know what kinds of tools | | | | happen and don't stress about it when it does. Also |
| are off limits to them. If your children are old enough to | | | | assume that you are going to have a rather large |
| be handling hot pans, make sure to talk to them about | | | | mess on your hands before it's all over. This is prime |
| which parts of the pans get hot. Talk with them about | | | | time to teach your kids the important skill of cleaning |
| properly handling baking pans using oven mitts as well | | | | as they go. Fill the sink with hot, soapy water and |
| as which kinds of surfaces in your kitchen are safe to | | | | place the dishes in the water as you finish with them. |
| lay hot pans on. | | | | Your kids will see how this makes it much easier to do |
| If your kids are too young to handle knives or hot pans, | | | | the dishes when the cooking is done. Throughout the |
| there are still lots of ways for them to be involved with | | | | process, try not to get stressed. The more laid back |
| pre-meal preparation. Ask young children to slice | | | | you can be as the kids are learning to cook, the more |
| bananas with a plastic knife, for example, or ask them | | | | fun it will be for everyone. |
| to put ice and water and sliced lemons in the glasses. | | | | 6. As your kids get older, allow them to plan and |
| They can put the chopped ingredients in a salad and | | | | prepare a meal for the family all by themselves. |
| toss, as well. | | | | When you first teach your kids to cook, their "help" in |
| There are lots of ways for kids to participate in the | | | | the kitchen will lead to a bit more work on your part, |
| kitchen, but they should know to always ask an adult | | | | but the confidence and knowledge they gain will be |
| before they use a tool or an appliance. | | | | well worth it as they grow. |