Learning how to cook is not only a fun pastime, it’s also important. Such a skill allows your children to fend for themselves, create complicated and tasty meals and cook for others whilst entertaining.
In order to become a master in the kitchen, it is a good idea to start young. Teaching your kids the art of cooking may be a messy process; it doesn’t however have to be a chore. There are a number of play-style utensils on the market, many of which will aid you in teaching your child the rules of the kitchen.
There will come a time however when you’ll need to swap the plastic pancakes for something a little more substantial. Nonetheless, if the thought of your toddler standing alongside you in the kitchen invokes images of shattered glasses, spilt milk and scorched fingers then don’t worry – there are safe ways to educate toddlers in culinary skills.
Kitchen hygiene
Prior to beginning your cook-off, there are a few things to consider. You should start by teaching your child a few simple hygiene rules. It is imperative that you wash both sets of hands before handling any food and have an apron at the ready; one that is your size and one to fit your toddler. This will encourage them to keep their clothes clean and not make unnecessary mess in the kitchen.
Kitchen equipment
If you are instructing young children the basic rules of cooking, it is imperative that you keep any sharp objects out of reach. Toddlers tend to make it their business to touch everything in sight and unless you’re careful, the kitchen can quickly become an extremely dangerous place. Preparing the food required prior to letting your child in the kitchen is a great way to keep them away from sharp knives, scissors and cheese graters. As they get older, you can then start teaching them how to use this specialist equipment.
Kitchen recipes
Begin your food tutorial with a basic recipe and also a recipe that is interesting enough to keep your little ones entertained. The space in which you cook in should be well lit and safe so invest in safe children’s lighting and make sure you set ground rules on how to behave in the kitchen – such as keeping handles turned away from countertop edges and not running inside the room.
When it comes to choosing the recipe, a sweet dish will probably be more attractive than a savoury dish so opt for something simple but tasty like chocolate chip cookies or cupcakes. Cupcakes are a great option as once cooled both your child and yourself can spend an entire afternoon decorating each one. You will be able to find glitter, icing in various colours, dried fruit and edible shapes in your local supermarket.
If possible, try and invest in food types that contain few preservatives and natural colourings .This will teach your children to look after their health, whilst learning new recipes.
The above post has been a guest article submitted by Amy Shawley.
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Love this post! Such great info & suggestions. My boys had a play kitchen since they were 2 yrs old & now at 10 and 7 they LOVE to cook. Anytime they can get in the kitchen, they have a great time. They definitely have a good knowledge of food & cooking safety.