Kids in the kitchen
Some of my favorite memories as a child are times when I learned how to do something new. Though there are certainly things that my parents taught me informally around the home and in the barn, a lot of it was the result of them helping me to complete 4-H projects.
And now, in the blink of an eye, I’m the parent in the kitchen teaching my son how to cook with his 4-H project. It’s been fun to watch him learn some new skills and hone others he’s learned over the years. He just mentioned to me he is a much faster and better mixer than he was a few months ago. It’s a great feeling to get better at something no matter what your age.
Summer is an opportune time to get your kids or grandkids in the kitchen. You don’t need to be a master chef to have fun sharing time together while preparing a meal or snack.
There are many times when I think we expect too much from our children. From an emotional standpoint we often expect them to act like little adults. But somehow when it comes to physical expectations, like chores for instance, we seem to think that tasks are too dangerous or difficult for a child to manage.
There is a reason that children can begin to join 4-H when they are in the third grade. From a child development standpoint they are both mentally and physically capable of learning and performing new skills – whether caring for an animal, building a woodworking project, or cooking. So most children over 8 are going to be able to help with just about every job in the kitchen with your supervision. If they are 7 or younger, then set boundaries and let them know which tasks will be ones that you do, like cooking on the stovetop or taking pans out of the hot oven.
eXtension.org is a collection of university extension resources from all across the country. Shewana Hairston, Family and Consumer Science Agent from Virginia Cooperative Extension, offers some important points to remember:
- Good cooks of all ages always wash their hands before cooking.
- Expect spills and messes.
- Children have short attention spans. Give them quick and simple jobs. Keep instructions simple and give instructions one-step at a time.
- Children get excited and forget. Repeat directions as often as needed.
- Give children jobs to help with cleanup.
- Provide children with positive feedback on their cooking effort to encourage continued participation.
She also offers some great suggestions to make these experiences special. One is to create a family theme night. You may want to try Fiesta night, Football Friday or Veggie Tale Saturday. You could even get some inexpensive decorations to add to the theme. Another idea is to create a cooking tool drawer for your children. This could include special measuring cups and measuring spoons as well as colorful utensils. No matter what you choose to do, get your kids involved.
Today I’ll leave you with this quote from Guy Fieri: “Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It's about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.”
Emily Marrison is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 740-622-2265.
https://www.coshoctontribune.com/story/news/2019/06/22/cooking-kids-more-than-following-recipe/1517183001/
2019-06-22 18:00:00Z
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