Do you cook with your kids? Yes it’s messy and time consuming. But there are so many benefits. Educators like to highlight all of the academic skills kids learn while cooking, but there are even more important things that your kids are learning.
What’s more important than academics? Lots of things, like being a healthy eater, gaining skills and confidence and of course, spending quality time with your family. There are so many great reason to bring the kids in the kitchen, but here are 3 overlooked benefits of cooking with kids.
Work Those Fine Motor Skills
As a parent, you’ve probably heard this term before. But what skills exactly are fine motor skills? They are the skills that require tiny movements in our hands and wrists. And why are they so important? These are the skills that let you dress yourself, put on your own shoes, brush your own teeth and of course, cook! Basically in order to become an independent person, we need to master fine motor skills.
How Cooking Works Fine Motor skills
Add Your Heading Text Here
Slicing
This is a great one for working on a pincer grasp. That’s when you pinch something in between your thumb and index finger. This is important for future writing skills! When you’re holding a knife correctly, then you should pinch the base of the blade (that’s where the blade meets the handle) in between your thumb and index finger.
Pouring
This is a great way to work on muscle control. When children pour, they need to determine how to lift and angle what they are pouring from. If they move too quickly and at a steep angle, they might spill. If they move too slowly at a slight angle, it may take too long. Either way, they are learning to make decisions based on the weight in their hands.
Peeling
In order to peel eggs or tangerines, kids need to pinch the shell or peel in between their thumb and index finger. There’s that pincer grasp again. Not only is this strengthening their hands but it’s also working on their focus. It takes a lot of determination and concentration to peel.
Mixing
Mixing gets those hands and arms working. It’s also a way to work on muscle control and self-correcting. If they’re mixing too fast, they might splash. If they’re mixing too slowly the ingredients may not come together. All you really need to mix is a simple bowl and spoon. Most recipes involve a little mixing, so have fun picking your favorite.
Sprinkling
How do you sprinkle? By pinching something in between your thumb and index finger! This is a great pincer grasp activity. It’s also fun. You can sprinkle salt, sesame seeds or of course, sprinkles. This activity is an engaging way to make your cooking a little more exciting.
So cooking is not only necessary for eating, it’s also a really practical way to help your preschooler prepare for life.
Quality Family Time
Is there any better time to be together than 5 pm on a weekday? Life does get crazy, but cooking is a great way to reconnect, without screens.
How to Connect through Cooking
Plan
The worst way to connect in the kitchen is by winging it. That only leads to confusion, a mess and a lot of yelling. So have a plan. That means know what you’re going to make, have your ingredients on hand and set aside enough time to complete your recipe. Check out our guide for cooking with kids for ideas on how to prep for cooking with kids.
Also, you can let go of any expectation for the outcome. Yes it might get a little messy and loud, but that’s how the best memories are made.
It's about working toward a common goal
Team building is all about working toward a common goal. Which is exactly why cooking is a team sport. It’s great to have an activity where each person is a contributing member of the team. Not only does it help build self-confidence, but it helps strengthen our confidence in each other.
The good thing about cooking is that there are so many steps. That means everyone can find a job they enjoy doing. From picking out the recipe, to washing the dishes, there’s plenty of room for everyone.
It lets us slow down
Life is busy, but you have to eat! The good thing about cooking is that we have to do it, (or have it done for us) multiple times a day. Food is also a way that we communicate love and caring to one another, which makes it a perfect way to connect with our kids.
Since we have to eat anyway, it’s a great time to invite the kids in to the kitchen. Put on some great music, set aside your phone and see how enjoyable just being together can really be.
Get your Picky Eater eating
Kids are much more likely to eat food that they help to prepare. Not only that, many times little chefs can’t help but sneak a taste of whatever they’re making. If all else fails, tell your kids not to touch that broccoli because you need it for dinner. Then see how much is left at dinner time.
How Cooking Helps Picky Eaters
No Pressure Exposure
The truth is that kids need 8- 20 exposures to a new food before they’ll eat it. Of course, one way to expose kids to foods is by serving it. But another way, is by cooking with it.
Cooking is a great way to build familiarity because there’s no pressure. Even if your child doesn’t like the taste or texture of a certain food, it doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy cooking with it. Instead of struggling at the table, cooking allows a picky eater to build up their familiarity with a new food at their own pace.
More ways to Engage
When food arrives at the table, there’s really only 1 acceptable way for kids to engage with it – by eating it.
But cooking allows for a whole sensory experience. Kids get to touch and smell foods, and no one yells at them! They can also see how foods transform in color, shape and texture as they’re cooked. It’s a great way to help a picky eater explore new foods.
Make new foods less intimidating
Have you ever asked what was in a dish before you tasted it? Some people really like to know what they’re eating, and kids are no exception. One of the best ways to know exactly what you’re eating is to make it yourself. Not only does that give picky eaters a better understanding of their meal, but it also gives them a sense of control. Does your picky eater dislike tomatoes? Then they can easily skip that step while cooking.
Conclusion
Eating is something we do regularly. In this world full of door dash and microwavable meals, it’s nice to offer a hands on learning experience. It’s exciting to teach kids life skills and to watch them grow more confident and independent. And if they end up eating a little more spinach, that’s also ok. What’s the biggest benefit to you? Let me know in the comments.
