Make Way For Kids in the Kitchen!
Most children love to help in the kitchen, and most adults enjoy having little ones there, too. Sure, it may be a bit more work to explain and help and clean up, but in the long run, you're teaching and modeling valuable life skills. Invest the time now, and you'll reap the rewards later!
But if you're new to all this, you may wonder where to start. We have some tips for new—and even experienced—parent-child cooking teams:
- When you're shopping, ask the kids to help you pick out the fruit for the recipes. They'll not only be more interested in the cooking process, they'll be more likely to eat what you prepare.
Kids love color, so have them choose some bright paper napkins for the meal they're working on.
- Remember the cleanliness rule: always wash hands before working with food.
- Beginners can spray cooking pans with nonstick vegetable spray.
- Model useful skills. Show how to hold a knife without getting cut; how to lift a pan lid without getting scalded and how to add ingredients without splashing the batter.
- Use memory aids. If you need to add six cups of flour to the mixer, lay out six pieces of cereal and eat one each time you add a cup of flour. This helps you keep track of your additions!
- Make sure children are comfortable at their work stations. Use a stool if necessary, tie back long hair, pull up long sleeves, wear an apron and remove distractions from the work area.
- Kids are like adults: they prefer choices. Ask them if they'd like to stir the batter, or put the muffin papers in the pan. Let them choose between setting the table and wiping off the counter.
- Children are great with garnishes. They have a real artistic flair for arranging vegetables, sprinkling powdered sugar and adding a flourish of parsley. They're also very skilled at picking out imaginative serving platters and bowls.
- Be realistic. Cooking isn't all fun. It also involves preparation and cleanup. Everyone has to help with the dirty work as well as the fun parts.
