Kids Love the Kitchen

As a kid, I loved to be in the kitchen when my mother was cooking. Kitchens are where everything happens. It’s not just where meals are prepared – it’s usually the hub of the home, where family and friends get together to spend time. Cooking and eating together is about more than nutrition for the body. It’s also the experience of connecting and interacting with family members, to feed relationships. Try to choose one meal that everyone comes to the table. It doesn’t have to be dinner. This is a challenge as everyone has their own activities (especially as children grow), but starting early promotes the importance of family time together, and also demonstrates a healthy attitude towards food and eating.
Peeling of onions and garlic cloves were one of the few tasks I learnt at that time. This is so because I did not have to use a knife. I know all kids love being involved with preparing food. That is why they are so likely to get in the way in your kitchen. They're interested in what you're doing, while you may be ignoring them. So rather than push them away, draw them in. While you are cooking, teach your child what a recipe is and the importance of following directions in order for a dish to turn out right. Teach them mathematics in the kitchen!! Ask you child “How many half cups do you need to equal a whole cup?” Ask him to measure “2 cm of ginger” or weigh “500 g of flour”. Teach him the skills of doing work in sequence. You may be able to create a sensory awareness in you kid by teaching him using a variety of textures, tastes, smells. Let him taste and smell. Let him touch and feel.
You can be an English teacher right in the kitchen. Teach your child new words like the ingredients used in the cooking, the cooking terms eg, frying, braising etc. And show off your science skills. Teach your child why protein turns white after cooking or why bananas turn brown after being exposed to air for a long time. You child will learn team work when working in the kitchen with you. Teach your child all about hygiene in the kitchen and about bacteria and germs. And don’t forget that you can teach your child history and geography from the kitchen too. It’s good if you can set an example by referring to a cookbook for recipes. Children learn just by seeing that their parents use books as references.
Research shows that children who grew up helping their mothers in the kitchen grew up to be adults who are confident, helpful and happy.