How to Start a Children's Cooking Class
Children should learn more than just book knowledge in school. Often schools don't have a budget for extra courses, such as cooking, that would benefit children. If your school doesn't offer a children's cooking class, you should consider starting one.
Instructions
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1
Decide for which age group you want to hold the cooking class. You can't teach five- to eight-year-olds the same way you would teach 12- to 14-year-olds. If you want to teach all of the age groups you will need to develop them separately and at different times. You could teach the younger children from 3 to 4 p.m. and the other children from 4 to 5 p.m.
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2
Choose a location. You can contact the local schools in your area to find out if they have a kitchen you can use to teach the class. This is convenient because children can just stay after school to take the class. If this doesn't work out you will need to find another location. You might want to consider using your own home if you have a big enough kitchen.
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3
Choose the days and times you would be able to teach each of the age groups. You will need this information before you can create the sign-up sheets.
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4
Figure out how much money you need to charge as a fee for the class. You will need to make enough money to pay for the food supplies each week even if you have no interest in making a profit. If you need to make a profit you will have to decide how much and add that to the cost of the supplies.
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5
Create a sign-up sheet that is also a parent permission form. This sheet should contain the date and time of the class and the fee. It should also ask for the child's information (name, address and phone number). There must be a signature line that the parents can sign to give their child permission to take the class.
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Contact the local schools and ask them if you can send the sign-up sheet home with their students. The only way you will find students to take the class is to have cooperation from the schools. School officials can hand them out at the end of the day.
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Collect the sign-up sheets and make sure you have enough students to teach. If there isn't enough interest in the class, you may have to cancel it.
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Call the parents several days before the class begins to say hello and give any last minute instructions. Let them know you are there if they have any questions.
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Plan your menu for each session and what concepts about cooking that you want the children to learn. Break down each menu into the ingredients you will need to purchase. Consider the number of children that you have signed up for the class to determine the quantity you need.
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Gather the supplies the day before the class is set to take place. This cannot be done any sooner, or the food will not be fresh.
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Offer another class the next season if the first class was a success.
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Tips & Warnings
Classify your cooking class. In one session you could teach baking basics, while another could focus on making appetizers.
Don't let younger children use the oven. It is best if you teach them to cook appropriate foods that they can make without having to use an oven or a stove top.
- Photo Credit sanja gjenero
