Cooking Activities For Children Aged 3 To 6 Years
Cooking with children can be stressful for parents, but it is really beneficial for the little ones. While it can be chaotic, it is actually also good for parents as it strengthens the bond between them and their children. So keep reading to discover some cooking activities for kids ages 3 to 6.
When children have the opportunity to cook with their parents , they learn many new skills. It is also a great way to spend time with your children. To cook with children, you need simple recipes, good ingredients and user-friendly kitchen utensils for the little ones.
When cooking with your children, try to get the little ones involved as much as possible! That way, they have a lot more fun and will be happier when the work is done.
If you do everything for them, they will think they can not do things themselves. In addition, they will get bored and will not want to be in the kitchen anymore. So give them a leading role, make them feel important in the kitchen. And most importantly, make them feel capable of cooking, even if you have to assist them a bit.
Why are cooking activities for children so positive?
Performing cooking activities with children is much more than just cooking. It’s about spending time together, organizing, planning and creating. These moments are invaluable and the children have great fun with their parents.
So what are the benefits of involving children in kitchen activities?
- Helps your child learn basic arithmetic skills by measuring or counting.
- Helps your child develop reading skills by reading recipes.
- Is a special moment to improve the relationship between parents and children.
- Provides a practical learning experience, while being creative, active and simply fun.
In addition, it is a great way to create emotional bonds with your family to sit down with them and share the food you have cooked with your children. It is also a great way for your children to develop social skills such as sharing, talking and listening.
Cooking activities for children aged 3 to 6 years: What you need
It is good to give your children a choice about what to cook. However, it is also important to make sure that the recipe is simple enough. Otherwise, you will do everything while the little ones are watching.
You may already know of a simple dish that you can cook with your children. Maybe it’s something they like to eat, like a favorite meal or a favorite dessert. Otherwise, you can look for recipes for children, or take a look at the library or in the bookstore for cookbooks for children.
Once you have decided what to cook, make sure you have all the ingredients and equipment you need, plus a good workplace. You also need plenty of time. Your child will probably mix and measure very slowly and you will have to clean up spills and smudges in the meantime while you cook the food.
Your child will probably also want to taste all the ingredients! It is okay! But remember that kitchens can be dangerous places for children. Therefore, you should always monitor them around hot surfaces, boiling liquids, electrical appliances and sharp objects.
How do you cook with your children?
Here are some tips to help you cook with children:
- Talk about the dish you are going to cook before you start. Show your child the ingredients and the recipe, if you are going to follow one.
- Let the children do as much as possible. They can, for example, wash vegetables and fruit, pour in and stir and help you measure and count. You can also have your child cut with scissors or cut simple things with a knife under close supervision. For example, you can cut many different fruits with a butter knife. You may need to show them what to do first and then let them try.
- Talk about what they do and introduce words related to cooking, such as “shake” and “mash”. You can also encourage your children to say words to describe tastes and textures, such as “salty”, “crumbly” or “crunchy”.
- Talk about which foods are healthy and why.
- Let the children do the dishes. Praise them for their cooking and hard work!
Adapt cooking activities for children of different ages
A simple green salad is a good first dish for the youngest children. Help the little ones wash the lettuce leaves and vegetables and let them tear them with their hands. Also give them a helping hand when measuring and adding the ingredients to the dressing, and give them a set of salad cutlery to mix the salad in the bowl.
Written recipes are a great way for an older child to develop their vocabulary and math skills. Read the recipe together before you start. You can also talk about concepts such as fractions, weights and temperatures, unit conversions.
Cooking can be a window to other countries and cultures. For example, you can talk to your children about the countries from which the dishes you cook come and the people who live there.
Cooking with the family is a great way to connect with your children on a deeper level and for them to learn things about you. In addition, you will create wonderful memories together with your children!
