Kids in the Kitchen - Educational Cooking
By Hilary Basile
Chocolate chip cookies are especially more delicious when they are made by you and your children. Although children can be messy in the kitchen (and in any room for that matter), there are a lot of good things that happen when you and your children create concoctions together. Cooking provides an opportunity to teach your children lessons on senses, math, literacy, science, geography and safety.
Senses
Your children are almost guaranteed to enjoy the cooking process as much as you do if it involves stirring and mixing (especially if they can do this with their hands instead of using kitchen utensils). Cooking is a great activity for kids because it offers a hands-on experiment involving different textures and smells. It also provides a nice opportunity to munch and nibble. And, there is no gender discrimination when it comes to cooking - boys love to get their hands covered in dough just as much as girls do.
Lessons
Cooking can provide an important math lesson when it comes to calculating cupfuls and tablespoons. It's a great way to teach about weights, measurements and fractions. And, the ability to follow steps in a recipe is a basic literacy skill called sequencing. It's like following the order of events in a story. Consider adding a scientific element into your cooking equation by posing questions such as "what dissolves faster, a whole sugar cube or a crushed one - in warm water or cold water?" Challenge your child to guess then find out. Even geography can sneak into your cooking lesson when preparing cultural dishes. It provides an opportunity to teach your children about dishes and foods from different countries.
Safety
Prior to your cooking experiment, it's a good idea to re-educate yourself on kitchen safety and pass the information on to your kids. Following are 5 safety tips that parents and children should follow:
- Make sure there is an adult present when cooking.
- Review the recipe before you begin to ensure you have all the necessary ingredients.
- Wash hands before cooking, especially before and after handling raw meat.
- Exercise precaution with fire (an adult should always be present when a stove or oven is on).
- Hold and use kitchen utensils properly, such as knives.
- Turn your kitchen into a learning opportunity for your children and have fun cooking!
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com
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