4 tips for cooking with kids

B
Apr 29, 2020 4:11 PM PDT
1 minute read
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SUMMARY

Cooking with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience. It allows them to learn and grow, and to feel like they are a part of the family meal. But it can also be messy and frustrating. In fact, it usually involves all of the above. But with …

Cooking with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience. It allows them to learn and grow, and to feel like they are a part of the family meal. But it can also be messy and frustrating. In fact, it usually involves all of the above.

But with some key planning and a lot of patience, you can work to have meaningful experiences through cooking with your kids. Follow these simple tips for a better way to prep meals as a family. Remember, cooking offers up some great life skills they can call upon later in life, whether working as a military cook or getting crafty with MREs to make a better meal in the field.


Make it a lesson

Any homeschooling parent will tell you cooking is where it's at for math, science and more. Don't miss an opportunity to help your kids learn as you're whipping up something delicious. You don't have to do anything elaborate, just mentioning cooking temps or measuring sizes can do wonders for sparking questions.

Let them do the dirty work

Sure, as a parent who can easily do tasks like cracking eggs or flipping pancakes, it's easier to just do it yourself. But allowing kids to do them (so long as it's age appropriate) lets them learn. Plus, just imagine their little faces glowing with pride!

Let them choose the cuisine

No kid wants to make some fancy meal that they aren't interested in eating. On the other hand, they'll be over the moon to make pretzel dogs, pizza, cookies or any other kid-friendly fare. Let them choose the menu for an added dose of fun.

If ingredients are short on hand, lay forth some kid-friendly options and let them choose. You might even remind them that on a deployment or when the D-Fac is out of key items, making due is part of military life!

Have them clean up

Boring, right?! But cleaning is part of the cooking process. Teach them now that after cooking, you have to clean up to your standard of cleanliness. You may not normally clean like you're getting an impromptu home inspection, but when there's help, it's a great time to start the practice.

Do you cook with your kids? What are your favorite dishes to make together?

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