8 Tips for Cooking with Children + 7 Edible Craft Ideas
Learn how to safely cook with children with these easy edible crafts!
If you're thinking about teaching your children how to cook, you may be wondering how it's possible when the kitchen can be an unfriendly place for little ones. However, we've compiled for you this list of 8 Tips for Cooking with Children plus 7 Edible Craft Ideas that can get you and the kids started on a culinary learning experience. Cooking with kids is a super fun activity once you've mastered how to keep them safe and busy. It's a learning opportunity that they likely won't be exposed to in school, and it will help them learn safety and responsibility for themselves.
These edible crafts are easy gateways into the world of cooking for kids. They won't require difficult steps or the use of sharp utensils, but in order to keep the kids having fun, there will be lots of decorating and fun-shaped foods. From cheesy appetizers to sweet dessert treats, the kids will love learning to cook and will eagerly chow down on their own gourmet snacks. Because children are notorious for their dessert cravings, we've got plenty of choclatey and sweet recipes for the kids to make. Since the kids are learning something new, this would also be an opportunity for you to expose them to new types of food. You can introduce them to fruits and vegetables they've never tried and help them develop tastes for healthier or foreign dishes. The possibilities are endless when it comes to kids' cooking ideas, and we've just given you some initial inspiration to start out the fun.
Cooking with Children
Smart Tips for Cooking with Children
The thought of your preschooler whipping up a snack in the kitchen can seem daunting, but we've done our research and have gathered several smart and useful tips for you in order to make cooking with the kids a fun and safe experience.
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Plan out your recipes and procedures ahead of time. Once you've picked out which recipe you and the kids will be making, you want to be sure that you have all the materials and ingredients you need. You won't want to be half way through the activity and realize you don't have everything you need. You can also plan out which child will do what task if you have multiple children. Have the kids take turns doing activities that may cause arguments like stirring or using the rolling pin. You can even assign tasks for when it's time to clean up.
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Scrub away those germs! This is a great opportunity to remind your children how important it is to wash their hands. You can show them how to rinse and lather properly with warm water and soap for a clean cooking experience.
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Go over the rules of the kitchen. Remind your children that the stove and burners get very hot and to be careful around them. You may want to tell your younger ones they are not allowed to use the stove and to ask you to put in or take out any of their items. Their safety is a priority!
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What's the rush? Take your time while working with the kids and remind them to take it slow as well. Mistakes and accidents are more likely to occur if the preparation is sped through carelessly.
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Don't be surprised by the mess they'll make. Kids tend to be messy when there isn't food involved. Adding food to the combination will only multiply the disorder. Keep in mind that after these cooking activities there will be a good amount of cleaning to do.
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Set up an accessible cooking station. Roll out a plastic tablecloth for the table. It might be easier for the children to work from the table where they can reach rather than at the counter. This will also give them more space to work.
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Keep extra ingredients on hand. In the event that the children drop or ruin an important ingredient, it's always smart to have a little extra on reserve. It's okay to mess up, but you won't want to stop in the middle of baking because of a slip up.
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Let them use safe cooking utensils. If the recipe requires cutting or blending, make sure to give the kids a task that involves using a safe utensil while you do the more dangerous part of the recipe. They'll be too busy having fun with their own task to notice what you're working on.
Edible Crafts to Try
With those easy tips under your belt, you and the kids can finally begin cooking. The following edible crafts are super simple and are safe for the kids to get really hands-on. The most you'll have to do is put trays in the oven or melt chocolate over the stove top.
What are your kids' favorite foods to make?