8 Reasons—and Ways—to Cook With Kids

This post is by Alexis Bonari of College Scholarships.

From what my dad says, getting me to help in the kitchen was like pulling teeth.

Although the film Ratatouille inspired me during college to try my hand at French and Italian cooking—and now can’t keep me from the kitchen—the first few lessons there were the hardest. I’d never learned them in a family environment! Teaching children early on the rewards of helping out in the kitchen will not only prepare them for the future, it will create fond memories of the past.

Eight reasons to cook with kids

Here are eight reasons to cook with kids—and a few ways to make it work.

1. It’s fun

Generally speaking, younger children want nothing more than to be with their parents. Take advantage of this glued-to-your-side phase and show them that helping in the kitchen can be both fun and rewarding. This way, when they’re older and they can take a more active role in helping around the kitchen and the house, they’ll be happier to do it.

2. Clean hands

Teach children the importance of hygiene early in life (as early as age two). To this end, try buying or making natural, vegetable-based soaps in the shapes of animals to make the activity fun. Also, consider buying nice ribbons or elastics to encourage children to tie their hair back in the kitchen; alternatively, spend some parent-child time together by braiding each other’s hair.

3. Math skills

Teach children simple math by using measuring tools or even counting the number of ingredients that go in a bowl. For older children, fractions and conversions (i.e. two half cups equal one whole cup) will come in handy in math class.

4. Green habits

It’s the perfect opportunity to teach children about the importance of organic eating and why pesticides can harm both them and the environment. If given this knowledge early on, children will be more likely to take better care of their bodies during school lunches, after school, and even during college when you can’t be around 24 hours a day.

5. Say “no” to stereotypes

Go ahead and invite both your son and your daughter into the kitchen. Kick those gender stereotypes under the refrigerator and teach your kids that, no matter their sex, they’re both going to have to cook for themselves when they leave the house for college.

6. Responsibility

Teach children accountability from an early age by asking them to clean up after themselves, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and put away clean dishes into the cabinets—whether or not you’re around when the mess is made. Reward them with a fun activity when they clean up without being asked. This way, they’ll clean up after their rowdy high school parties when you parents go away for the weekend…

7. Multi-tasking

Yes, Johnny and Jane take twice as long to set the table and stir the bowls as you do, but consider this: you’re helping them learn lifelong lessons in a matter of minutes. Of course, this heart-warming logic doesn’t compute every evening, so try this: delegate jobs to children they can perform while you’re doing something else. In example, they can still set the table, but have them do it while you’re chopping vegetables instead of waiting until dinner’s out of the oven.

8. Self-esteem

Lavishing children with praise is only going to do so much for their self-esteem if they don’t get their hands dirty every once in a while. Standing side-by-side with a parent in the kitchen, contributing to a family dinner, or making a PB&J all by themselves are great ego-boosts.

8 Ways to Cook with Kids

1. Give each child a different task each time so no one is stuck with a task he or she doesn’t enjoy.
2. Reward children for helpful behavior with activities rather than food (which can later develop into eating disorders in some cases). Go see a movie together, read in bed, spend extra time at the park, or visit the ferrets at Petco on the way home from school.
3. Even though some children may be too young to handle a knife, try giving them a plastic or metal butter knife with which to cut up strawberries, bananas, cheese, and other soft foods.
4. A child as young as two can spread marinara sauce on pizza dough.
5. Have children arrange vegetables on mini-pizzas to make faces.
6. There’s something oddly therapeutic about peeling potatoes. Leave this job for an older child who’s been taught to use a peeler safely.
7. The same goes for watching a bowl of inconsistent, eggy mush turn into a smooth paste. Let younger children (around four or five years old) use a spoon and older ones (pre-teens) use hand-mixers.
8. Instruct children to wash or scrub produce before using them in a dish. This is the perfect opportunity to talk about germs, pesticides, and the importance of organic food for human as well as the planet’s health.

Do you get your kids into the kitchen? I’d love to hear your tips below.

Alexis Bonari is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching the best college application essay tips as well as looking at various college grants by degree. Whenever she gets some free time, she enjoys doing yoga, cooking for fun, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.