Zum Inhalt springen
Involving kids in the cooking process helps them to develop healthy eating habits, acquire essential skills and strengthens family bonds.
We have prepared some tips on how to make this process more comfortable both for parents and kids:
Start with small tasks
At first actively comment what you are doing in the kitchen, paying attention to actions, smells and sounds. Then engage kids to simple activities like mixing and adding ingredients, gradually helping them build up their cooking skills.
Prepare the environment
Set up a kid-friendly space where they can easily access countertops and use age appropriate tools and utensils. For example consider using AVDAR Toddler Tower and Wooden Knife and Board Set for introducing cutting and chopping.
Use visual charts
Visual aids help kids focus, take initiative, remember the steps and reduce number of “when is it done?” questions. Visualize the recipe using a visual chat you create yourself, download one online or use a cookbook.
Let them decide
Choose a recipe together and let kids pick ingredients at the store. Be open to their creative cooking solutions and as they gain confidence, encourage them to cook simple recipes by themselves.
Let go of the mess
Cooking with kids is messy. Embrace it and let it be. Kids will be splashing, mixing and tasting and it’s a wonderful sensory experience for them.
There are many ways kids can get involved in the cooking process from early ages. Being involved not only keeps them busy, but teaches basics for cooking, allowing them to train hand-eye coordination and to improve interhemispheric interaction. Interhemispheric interaction improves when we use both hands to do an activity.
Here is a list of ideas for simple activities in the kitchen that even small babies can do.
1️、 Use children scissors to cut the lettuce, or simply brake it with both hands.
2️、 Make the dough for simple cookies: mix oatmeal and banana, then bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.
3️、 Take out parts of berries such as strawberries or cherries.
4️、 From around the age of 2, children can use a safe knife to cut fruits and vegetables. You can start with something soft like bananas or strawberries.
5️、 Put fruits and vegetables on skewers.
6️、 Mix salad, dough and cereal.
7️、 Wash fruits and vegetables.
8️、 Pour a drink into a glass.
9️、 Wipe the table and clean up the crumbs.
10、 Put ice cream in a glass.
Share your cooking experience with kids and remember to tag our Instagram account @avdar.co.
