"Why do the bubbles rise like that?" Daniel asks as he
watches his mother stir a boiling pot of noodles. As she explains
how water turns into steam, he grates cheese and measures it into a
bowl on the counter.
Together, Daniel and his mother planned this meal of spaghetti,
salad, and bread. He has already mastered muffins and mashed
potatoes. Tonight, with a little help from his grown-up assistant,
he is making a meal. Daniel has spent the last half-hour measuring
spices, washing lettuce, reading labels, and drizzling olive oil on
a loaf of bread.
Dinner may have taken a few extra minutes to get on the table,
but Daniel, a second grader, is learning a skill many adults
haven't mastered: how to cook a healthy meal.
What Kids Learn in the Kitchen
Certainly, it is easier and faster to do it yourself. So why
encourage your school-age child to join you in the kitchen? Because
the lessons learned there can be a benefit both at home and in the
classroom.
Cooking teaches kids about eating well.
Kids are usually receptive to conversations about nutrition.
Planning a menu can become an opportunity to explain smart food
choices. Take the time to discuss the different food groups and
encourage your kids to experiment with foods they might not
otherwise try. Kids who have a hand in making the vegetables
might be a little more willing to sample them at the table.
Sharing food means sharing memories and good conversation.
Grandma's secret zucchini bread recipe can be your chance to
pass on a little bit of family lore. Did you love peanut butter and
banana sandwiches when you were 7? Tell your child about the kind
of foods you liked as a kid. The kitchen is also a place to ask
thought-provoking questions like: To make a really colorful dinner,
which foods would you include?
Cooking can also foster responsibility.
Kids start out learning to follow recipe directions and then
they learn to clean up after themselves when the project is
completed. Learning how to safely handle kitchen equipment is an
important part of learning to cook. Kids need safety reminders and
help with following the steps in a recipe, but they can learn to
clean up spills as they happen and to put things back where they
belong.
Your kitchen is a learning lab.
As kids learn to crack eggs and stir sauce, they also gain
new science, language, and math skills. Basic math skills
("are we putting in more salt or baking soda?") and
sequencing skills ("what is first…next…last?") give way
to fractions ("is this 3/4 of a cup?") as your child
gains confidence in the kitchen. Reading recipes can improve
reading comprehension, and something as simple as salt sprinkled on
an ice cube demonstrates basic science principles.
What Can Younger Kids Do?
By the time kids are in elementary school, they have the
coordination to complete a lot of simple kitchen tasks, such
as:
- mashing potatoes or bananas
- peeling apples (use a safe peeler instead of a knife)
- sifting and stirring ingredients
- spooning batter into a pan or muffin tin
- kneading dough
- rolling cookie dough
- using cookie cutters
- spreading on toppings, such as grated cheese
Working together in the kitchen can be a great way for siblings
to connect, though having more than one child to manage can make it
a little more challenging for parents. Try to give each child an
equal number of fun tasks, and encourage patience, cooperation, and
teamwork. For instance, if the kids like cracking eggs, tell them
how many you need and let them divide them equally. If there's
an extra, you get to crack it.
For true beginners, a good way to start might be with breakfast.
On a morning when no one is in a hurry, make something simple that
you know your child likes. Pick a recipe with no more than five
ingredients, like French toast, pancakes, eggs, or muffins.
It pays to do a little prep work before you start. Set up a
sturdy stool or chair where your child can stand and reach the
counter. Set out the recipe and ingredients you will need, the
measuring cups and spoons. It's always a good idea to have
extra ingredients on hand, just in case of a mishap.
What Can Older Kids Do?
Older school-age kids are probably ready for a challenge.
Let them take the lead on choosing and preparing a more involved
dish, starting with making the grocery list.
Be the assistant in the kitchen when needed, and supervise if
your child needs a lesson in using any unfamiliar cooking
equipment. Closely monitor or take over any work that requires the
stove, oven, or knives. And don't forget to shower the chef
with compliments when you taste the finished product. After
creating one dish solo, your child might want to take on an entire
meal or some other challenge, such as doubling a recipe or cutting
it in half.
Managing the Mess
Whenever you have kids in the kitchen, you're inviting some
extra mess. Some parents will be comfortable with a little
disorder. Others will feel their blood pressure rising with each
little spill. You'll take the fun out of it if your child is
overly fearful of making a mistake. But it's reasonable to set
some ground rules. Let kids know that spills will happen, but that
it's not OK to be careless and messy on purpose.
Parents also need to find their own comfort zone with regard to
how much experimenting they'll allow. Would you let your child
veer away from the recipe or take charge of a step that could doom
the dish? Strive to make the experience a bit of an adventure, but
you don't have to overdo it. You can satisfy kids'
curiosity in simple ways - just by letting them taste the
difference between salt and flour or by comparing the scents of
vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger.
Your Budding Chef?
A child who shows a real interest in cooking might be ready to
tackle more advanced cooking techniques. It takes practice to
garnish, drizzle, and zest, but learning these skills will be fun
for a kid with culinary interests.
If your child wants more expertise than you can provide,
consider cookbooks, DVDs, and cooking classes for kids. Who knows -
you could be raising the next Julia Child or Emeril Lagasse!
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: February 2009
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.