Cooking

Cooking with Kids Teaches Important Lessons

Cooking can be a chore for those of us who do it every day and
bringing kids in to the equation is only a recipe for confusion and
messes. However, this need not be true. Cooking can teach your
children invaluable lessons and you never know they might grow
up sooner than you think and take over. Just that thought may
motivate you to read on.

Confidence and Creativity

As it is often said, confidence is the greatest gift you can give
your child. When they help you make something and you give
them the credit, you can see them feeling proud of their
accomplishment and beaming from side to side. This is a big step
in confidence because they feel they were able to create
something which everyone is enjoying. Even if they mixed the
dry ingredients when you were cooking or baking, the sense of
accomplishment that 'I did it' is the most important lesson they
learn.

Math Skills

While measuring ingredients, you can give them a practical math
lesson while cooking with you. Asking them to double the
ingredients if you are cooking two batches of soup or halving
them if you are just making an appetizer size will help them
practice their math skills without having to sit and work on a
desk with paper and pens. They will also realize the practical
aspect of math and may begin to put two and two together
(literally) and like the subject even more when they can see how
it is useful in everyday life.

Nutrition Skills

With childhood obesity levels at scary rates in the United States,
cooking together is a great way to teach children some facts and
figures about healthy eating and nutrition. Explaining how they
just need a little olive or canola oil to make their French toast
instead of deep frying the bread like there is no tomorrow is just
one simple lesson you can impart. Trying out new fresh salads
instead of desserts all the time is also setting a good example of
healthy eating. 

Equality

Equality in the kitchen is another great lesson you can teach by
cooking with your kids. By telling your sons from a young age
that they can pitch in too and that the kitchen is not only the
woman's domain, you are doing a big favor to is future wife and
your next generation. Men who are involved in cooking and
cleaning often have more respect for their spouses as they do
not underestimate the time and effort it takes to whip up a
meal and maintain a home.