Cooking is an essential life skill everyone needs to learn to be able to live independently. Beyond ensuring that kids have the skills required to feed themselves when they leave home, learning to cook has further benefits. Getting your kids involved in cooking from a young age can be a significant help if they are picky eaters. Children are far more likely to try different foods and develop their palettes if they are involved in the cooking process.
If you have a child who is a picky eater or simply want to help develop your child’s motor skills, here are some ways to get kids involved in cooking:
Make it fun
Make cooking an enjoyable activity rather than something kids are forced into doing. You can make cooking fun for kids in many different ways. From trying fun food combinations, allowing them to experiment with flavors, and letting kids select the recipes you try, there are many ways to encourage kids to develop a love of food and cooking.
Let kids choose the menu
Letting kids make up their own menu and decide what the family will eat for dinner can get them interested in cooking. By taking over the kitchen (under supervision), kids can experiment with flavors and develop their cooking knowledge. Having the freedom to decide what the family will eat is also an excellent way for kids to increase their confidence and develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments, which will stay with them through their adult life.
Make baking a regular activity
The satisfaction of baking a delicious cake is something no one ever gets bored of, regardless of age. Creating deliciously sweet treats is guaranteed to get your kids enthusiastic about spending time in the kitchen. After baking cookies and cupcakes, you can then attempt something more ambitious together. A swiss roll recipe is a perfect choice to add to your baking repertoire. Kids will love helping to roll the cake to form the swiss roll shape and decorating it with strawberries and the creamy filling. The more you bake together, the more confident kids will become, and the further their skills will develop.
Cooking with kids not only helps prevent children from becoming fussy eaters, but it is also an excellent way to develop a shared hobby and spend quality time together.
