Cooking with Kids Teaches Important Lessons
Cooking can be a chore for those of us who do it every day and bringing kids in to the equation is only a recipe for confusion and messes. However, this need not be true. Cooking can teach your children invaluable lessons and you never know they might grow up sooner than you think and take over. Just that thought may motivate you to read on.
Confidence and Creativity
As it is often said, confidence is the greatest gift you can give your child. When they help you make something and you give them the credit, you can see them feeling proud of their accomplishment and beaming from side to side. This is a big step in confidence because they feel they were able to create something which everyone is enjoying. Even if they mixed the dry ingredients when you were cooking or baking, the sense of accomplishment that 'I did it' is the most important lesson they learn.
Math Skills
While measuring ingredients, you can give them a practical math lesson while cooking with you. Asking them to double the ingredients if you are cooking two batches of soup or halving them if you are just making an appetizer size will help them practice their math skills without having to sit and work on a desk with paper and pens. They will also realize the practical aspect of math and may begin to put two and two together (literally) and like the subject even more when they can see how it is useful in everyday life.
Nutrition Skills
With childhood obesity levels at scary rates in the United States, cooking together is a great way to teach children some facts and figures about healthy eating and nutrition. Explaining how they just need a little olive or canola oil to make their French toast instead of deep frying the bread like there is no tomorrow is just one simple lesson you can impart. Trying out new fresh salads instead of desserts all the time is also setting a good example of healthy eating.
Equality
Equality in the kitchen is another great lesson you can teach by cooking with your kids. By telling your sons from a young age that they can pitch in too and that the kitchen is not only the woman's domain, you are doing a big favor to is future wife and your next generation. Men who are involved in cooking and cleaning often have more respect for their spouses as they do not underestimate the time and effort it takes to whip up a meal and maintain a home.
