How to Teach a Child to Cook

Cooking is a fun and rewarding activity that you can teach your child. A kitchen, which is traditionally the heart of every home, is also a place where you can teach your child not only about cooking but about family togetherness and traditions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Kitchen
• Recipe
• Cooking ingredients
• Apron
• Cooking gadgets
• Utensils

1. Determine the appropriate age to begin teaching your child to cook. You can start teaching your child how to cook when your child can walk and talk. As young as toddler years, you can teach the basics like mixing cake and making jellos. It is a fun activity for both parents and child as simple meals are made together.

2. Take your child to the supermarket or grocery. Start by getting your child involved in the menu planning and buying of ingredients. Teach your child what each ingredient is used for.

3. Have your child watch you when you prepare the food and when you cook, up to the time you set the table right before meal.

4. Introduce your child to the appliances and cookware sets or utensils used when cooking a meal. You can buy a younger child plastic cookware play sets to start with, and then when you cook have your child mimic what you do in the kitchen.

5. Teach about safety measures, like not standing too close to a hot oven or stove when you cook. Also remind your child not to touch the knife and any sharp items in the kitchen.

6. Set the mood for cooking. Have your child wear an apron so that he or she knows that it is time for cooking.

7. Let your child get his or her hands dirty. Do not be too worried about the mess. Allow your child to help by doing simple things, like mixing the baking powder with eggs. Do not leave a young child unattended, and make sure your child understands that it is not all play. Your child should be taught the value of food by not throwing or tossing food around. Make it educational by teaching how to measure a cup or a spoonful as you add each measurement. When your child is old enough to hold a knife, your child can help cut or chop vegetables, meats or fruits. Make sure to closely supervise your child on the first try.

8. Let your child help cook or watch you as you do the actual cooking. Your child can help by handing you the utensils to use. Another way to get your child involved is to have your child turn the timer on and off. For older children you can actually make them cook, provided you teach them the basics and you supervise them closely.

9. Give praises and enjoy the food. Make sure to give your child credit for being such a good helper and a good cook. Then take the time to enjoy the food together.

Tips & Warnings

• Make cooking fun and educational. Cooking is like science and math, your child will learn how to measure and mix ingredients together while having fun cooking.
• Keep knives away from your child's reach. Put child safety locks on cabinets and drawers.
• Do not allow your young child to stay close to a hot pan or pot while you’re cooking. Do not let the handle of pots and pans to stick out where they can be easily reached by a toddler. Tip-over can happen and may cause burns.
• Do not let a young child turn on the cooking controls if he or she is too young to understand about fire hazards and safety.
• Always keep a watchful eye.

[pixiemama]

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