If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, chances are you are in the thick of planning and prepping for the big meal. Why not bring the kids into the kitchen and teach them some important life lessons while making memories at the same time?
You may normally kick your kids out of the kitchen because they slow you down or they make a big mess. These are both a reality, but it is also an opportunity to spend some quality time together working on a common goal: making a delicious home cooked meal.
Cooking a big meal for many guests requires a variety of skills. Planning for a meal takes time and organization. You may have a budget. This teaches children how to prioritize and employs math skills. Measuring ingredients can also require calculations. And using a recipe means children have to follow directions. All of these are skills they can learn in the kitchen and take out into the real world.
Here are some tips for cooking with kids :
Safety First: Review kitchen rules. Make sure kids know about sharp knives, hot surfaces and other potential dangers.
Read Recipes Beforehand: Teach children to read through recipes two times so they make sure they have all the ingredients and cookware they need.
Embrace the Mess: It’s going to happen, there’s no avoiding it. There’s an important lesson to be learned in the value of cleaning up after yourself.
One Dish Per Child: It may be easiest to work with one child per dish. That way there won’t be too many cooks, and you can get one on one time with that child.
Gone are the days of preparing meals being “a woman’s job”. Get your boys involved as well. This can be a rewarding and fun experience for everyone. It may even become a new holiday tradition!
