Cooking with Kids

 I have been telling parents in my class for years that cooking with your children is such a powerful way to teach math and reading skills.  Plus, you are preparing your child for life (I may have needed MANY lessons on how to read a recipe before I was able to cook even the simplest meals).

The problem is, some of us are not exactly comfortable in the kitchen ourselves (ME) without a toddler getting involved.  I decided this summer that it was time to practice what I preach and start incorporating Big Brother into some cooking at our house.  Here are a few things I learned that can make cooking together more fun for you and your child (even if you aren't a good cook).

1. Choose something your child likes to eat at first.  My first few attempts failed because Big Brother had no interest in the foods I chose.  Finally, I got smart and we made ice cream.  BINGO!

2. Choose a simple recipe or one you know well.  If you aren't sure what should happen next, you are not going to want an extra little spoon hovering over the pot.  Depending on the age of your child, you may also need a short recipe to allow for a shorter attention span.

 3. Lay out everything you will need for the recipe before calling your child into the kitchen.  Really.  I mean everything (ingredients, measuring devices, mixers, bowls, etc.).  Trust me on this, you do not want to leave a bowl full of ingredients in front of your two year old while you run back to the fridge for some milk.

4. Don't plug any electronics in until you are ready to use them.  I suppose this is only for smaller children, but the first thing my son did was find the on button on the ice cream maker and the electric mixer.  They just can't resist.

5. Expect some mess.  I usually leave a mess in the kitchen when I cook, so I don't know why it was difficult for me to realize that my two year old probably wasn't going to pour or mix things perfectly either.  It is nothing a wet rag can't fix and Big Brother learned so much about being careful when he saw the milk spilling all over the counter!

6. Keep at it! Each time I cook with my son it gets easier and easier, and I get more confident about it.  It requires a little extra preparation, but the reward is so worth it.