Looking for a fun child-focused activity that you can do together this holiday season? Try your kitchen. Research shows kids really like making culinary creations...or even cookies or cupcakes...and it is a skill that they can bring into adulthood. Child care providers should also take note. Cooking can utilize essential skills of math, logic, problem-solving, and the results are almost always tasty!
A Betty Crocker Kitchens survey of 1,000 children ages 10 to 17 found that:
* Nearly 90 percent of kids feel proud when they have cooked something.
* 80 percent say cooking is fun.
* 94 percent of children like when the entire family eats together.
* More than 70 percent of children surveyed indicated that they would be willing to do more of the cooking if it helped their families eat dinner together more often.
While this survey highlighted children 10 and up, younger children can participate in cooking and meal preparations as well. Young children love stirring in ingredients, helping to measure and pour, and selecting menu options. Youngsters often love to crack eggs, and a simple cooking recipe that yields quick results is making scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast.
Schools and care providers know that cooking helps children learn to read and with math, and some teachers/providers foster this skill by sending home monthly or weekly "kid-friendly" recipes for children to try. Some child cares and schools even feature a kitchen in the classroom to nurture this skill.
The bottom line is that while there may be more of a mess or take a little longer, involving your children in cooking and meal preparations at a young age may create a future chef in your household...or at least an independent and healthy eater in adulthood!
Be sure to ask kids what their ideas are for a recipe that that is sure to get gobbled up and then let them do it (with your discreet assistance, of course). Family cooking is not only fun but can create cherished memories and traditions that will spread joy, not only during holidays, but all year-round!
More Child Care Quick Tips
A Betty Crocker Kitchens survey of 1,000 children ages 10 to 17 found that:
* Nearly 90 percent of kids feel proud when they have cooked something.
* 80 percent say cooking is fun.
* 94 percent of children like when the entire family eats together.
* More than 70 percent of children surveyed indicated that they would be willing to do more of the cooking if it helped their families eat dinner together more often.
While this survey highlighted children 10 and up, younger children can participate in cooking and meal preparations as well. Young children love stirring in ingredients, helping to measure and pour, and selecting menu options. Youngsters often love to crack eggs, and a simple cooking recipe that yields quick results is making scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast.
Schools and care providers know that cooking helps children learn to read and with math, and some teachers/providers foster this skill by sending home monthly or weekly "kid-friendly" recipes for children to try. Some child cares and schools even feature a kitchen in the classroom to nurture this skill.
The bottom line is that while there may be more of a mess or take a little longer, involving your children in cooking and meal preparations at a young age may create a future chef in your household...or at least an independent and healthy eater in adulthood!
Be sure to ask kids what their ideas are for a recipe that that is sure to get gobbled up and then let them do it (with your discreet assistance, of course). Family cooking is not only fun but can create cherished memories and traditions that will spread joy, not only during holidays, but all year-round!
