This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Candlewick Press. All opinions are my own.
If you’re somebody who loves to cook, you will want to pass this passion onto your kids. However, we all know how picky some kids can be, and they’d usually prefer to eat something quick and then get back to watching TV or playing on their tablet. While this is expected, it’s still not the best way for them to spend their time. There are ways to get them excited about cooking and trying different types of food, and here are some tips to make that possible.
Get Them Their Own Cookbook
Fans of The Great British Bakeoff will love this one. Bake, Make and Learn to Cook, a new cookbook from 2019 winner David Atherton is geared specifically for kids ages 6 to 10. If your child is like mine, then you know how exciting they can find The Great British Bakeoff. To get a cookbook written for kids by a past winner is beyond cool. Instead of color photographs, each recipe is accompanied by charming drawings that illustrate step-by-step instructions, as well as ingredients and families enjoying the cooking process. Bake, Make, and Learn to Cook is divided into four sections; Starting the Day, Lunches and Simple Suppers, Delicious Treats, and Cakes and Bakes. Atherton does an excellent job making each recipe easy to understand and enticing to eat. The recipes are simple, but full of flavor making this a delightful cookbook the entire family will enjoy.
Make Something They Love
Kids will be reluctant to help you cook something they are unfamiliar with, so you can start getting them excited about being in the kitchen and cooking by making their favorite meal. This can be something that you eat every week, or you can give them a treat and create something that you only pull out for special occasions. With the holidays coming up, you can even teach them how to make pumpkin pie from a pumpkin at The Art of Doing Stuff to add some festive cheer to your kitchen and give them a specialty dish to get them started.
Trust Them With Important Things
One mistake parents make when working with their kids is failing to trust them with important things. This doesn’t help their passion, making them feel like they are an assistant, rather than a partner. One of the easiest ways to do this is to give them the ‘topping’ task, such as for pizzas and cakes. As this is often the most exciting part of the process, it will help them feel involved and a crucial part of the process.
Listen To Their Opinions and Technique
You might have your way of doing things in the kitchen, but every chef is different, so you must make sure you listen and respect their opinions and techniques. This might not be exactly what you want, but it will make the experience more fun for your kids. So, rather than follow them around with a dustpan and brush, let there be a little mess, and although the first recipe will follow the instructions to the letter, you can ask them how to improve it next time.
Be Enthusiastic About Their Meal
The chances of your kids making a fine three-course meal first time around are slim, but this doesn’t mean you can’t still be enthusiastic about it. Just like you would be passionate about their art or stories, you should act interested and respectful about the food they make. If you fail to do this, they will get discouraged, severely affecting their love for cooking and making them reluctant to get into the kitchen.
Messy Fingers
While cooking with your kids might make things messier, it’s also something that will ignite a passion for cooking within them. Not only will this give you both the chance to spend plenty of time together, but it will also help them become more self-sufficient, preparing them for life when they eventually move out and have a place to call their own.
These are great tips. I started cooking at the ag of three. Great life skill.
ReplyDeleteMy kids and now my grandkids usually want to help me cook. I had four daughters so they didn’t mind helping. My grandkids love it. Even the boys get in on it. They want to test the batter and such. I expected their hands and more to get messy. That’s have the fun. Plus they loved telling people that they helped make the food! I cracked up at the eggie picture. This was pin worthy! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of helping my mother make homemade pizza. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loves to cook..my sons not so much! Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteI like the tip to listen to their opinions and technique. I feel my kids get a real kick when I start doing things their way because it's better.
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