How to Get Your Kids Involved in Meal Preparation and Cooking

6 Benefits Of Preparing A Meal With Your Child

Sprucing up some versatile dishes and meals in the kitchen provides opportunities for parents and children to spend quality time together. Of course, all whilst mastering a variety of new skills. 

Quality Family Time

Indulging your kids in meal preparation and cooking with you enhances family time, strengthening family bonding.

Life Skills Learning

Yes, you heard it right! By encouraging your ward to cook with you, you will instill a life skill in them, making them self-sufficient. `

Learning Different Concepts: Sorting, Grouping, and Colours

You can engage your little ones by teaching them many concepts. For example, sorting food items based on colours, sorting fruits and vegetables, grouping as per size, colour, etc. It would become an experiential learning for them.

Enhance Mathematical Concepts like Weight, Calculations, and More/Less

You can teach them basic Maths concepts like addition, subtraction, counting, and more or less while having fun.

Cook and Collaborate

When children work with their family members, they learn to work collaboratively. The practice helps build team spirit while teaching them to become patient listeners.  

Boosts Confidence

Working together as a team, giving suggestions for the meal plan, and buying some exciting ingredients together - Sounds interesting. And then eventually making your dish - Well, it indeed tends to boost the confidence of your young ones.  

5 Points to Remember Before You Begin Your Family Cooking Activity

Here is a list of some essential practices that you need to take care of before you begin to cook with your young trailblazers:

Short and Simple Recipes

Children have lesser attention spans, so recipes should be easy to explain. It would help if you also simplified the directions you give your children, making them easier to understand.

Be Patient

Children may need constant reminders to finish a particular task. So, don't lose your cool and be calm.

Welcome Spills and Mess With a Smile

When you have kids in the kitchen as your co-chefs, the mess is bound to happen. Welcome the abundance and mishappenings around with a smile. Make it a fun learning experience for your children.

Constant Supervision

You must supervise your kids in the kitchen at any point in time. They require constant monitoring and care. 

Basic Rules

Teach your kids basic kitchen rules like constantly washing hands before cooking, pulling sleeves back, tying hair, not tasting food with fingers, etc.

10 Ways to Get Your Kids Involved with Meal Preparation and Cooking

Turn cooking into family fun by involving your kids and assisting them in various tasks as per their age.

Preparing Meal Plans Together

Prep a weekly meal plan with your kids. Ask them what they would like to eat. It will give them a sense of ownership and help save time during the week. 

Going Grocery Shopping Together

Once you have prepared the meal plan, shop for the required ingredients. Children will also know what goes in a particular dish and the words' health quotient.

Planting an Edible Garden

Lay out a small garden wherein you can help your child plant and care for fruit, vegetables, herbs, or spice saplings used in cooking. For example, you can use basil leaves for making pesto sauce.

Researching for Different Recipes Together that You Can Prep

You can explore kid-friendly, age-appropriate recipes with your kids, be it a preschooler or teenager. 

Conducting Fun Cooking Challenges 

Make cooking time an exciting activity that your kids will look forward to, too. How? The answer is simple - By conducting safe and kid-friendly cooking challenges like who can cook faster, who will make less mess, whose dish is innovative, etc.

Organising Baking Challenges 

If you and your kids are inclined towards baking, you can have a baking challenge like decorating cupcakes and cakes, making nutritious muffins, and more. Give these challenges some innovative names like Cupcake Wars!

Masterchef Junior Cooking Class

Let your child be your teacher and conduct a masterclass teaching his age-appropriate recipe. Doing so will help them enjoy a sense of accomplishment in them.

Organise Theme-Based Family Dinners

You can include theme-based family dinners in your meal plans for a unique twist, like Pizza Night, Indian Night, Lebanese Night and BBQ Night.

Always Encourage Your Children for Their Never-Ending Efforts

Children feel motivated when praised for their efforts. Keep appreciating them.

Reward Your Children

You can take them to their favourite movie, organise a playdate with their friends, or take them out on a drive. Rewards could be anything your child likes, but ensure they get rewarded and appreciated for their efforts.

4 Tips for Flawless, Enjoyable Family Dinners

We have already discussed how you could include your children in prepping meals for your family. But you could also make them a part of your plan to map out pleasant family dinners:

Assigning Age-Appropriate Tasks

Matching your skills to your kids' abilities is the key. Assign the tasks by their age and skillsets. For instance, younger children can assist in washing vegetables and setting up the table. On the other hand, older kids can help chop, stir, and grind. 

Making Memories Amid Flour and Spices

Give your child the freedom to explore without fear. Make memories amidst imperfection and chaos while cooking with them in the kitchen. 

Planning for Success in the Kitchen

Children must learn to plan meticulously for an effortless cooking experience. Cherish the delectable outcome together.

Teaching Kitchen Etiquette and Handling Sharp Tools

Knives, electrical appliances, and gas stoves are all hazardous. So, you should set kitchen rules before you even begin your cooking expedition with them. Ensure their utmost safety.

To Conclude

Please make the most of these family cooking activities to strengthen your bond with your child. Come together, talk, connect and catch up while cooking a delicious homemade meal. Ensure you educate the kids about nutrition and its importance for their well-being. Enjoy the fun moments essential to making your kids responsible and accountable.