Appetite for Knowledge

Do you have memories of baking with a parent, a grandmother, or another family member? Taking the time to get messy with kids in the kitchen can build their confidence, create lasting memories and spark their passion for making culinary creations in the kitchen!

The holidays are a great time to get in the kitchen with kids. Be sure to make it a fun learning experience, and don’t worry about making a mess or creating picture-perfect foods. The experience is the best reward.

When baking with kids, be intentional in preparation to lower the stress and increase the fun! Here are some tips for creating a memorable experience in the kitchen with kids:

• Let kids choose the recipe.
• Look through cookbooks, websites, and cooking magazines together. Kids will be more interested when they get to help choose the recipe. Little kids can select the recipes from pictures. Be sure to keep difficulty level in mind based on age, safety, and attention span.
• Be sure the work area is safe, and they can reach items safely to prevent spills and falls.
• It is important to teach kids the importance of hand washing and keeping hands clean throughout the cooking process to prevent illness.
• If your kitchen assistant can read, let them read the recipe. If they aren’t able to read, read the instructions aloud, step by step, and let them practice listening and following directions.
• Older kids can help write the shopping list and get ingredients organized before beginning the cooking. Younger kids can help pre-measure ingredients and even check off ingredients and steps as they are completed.
• Keep the age of the child in mind and be sure to assign them age-appropriate tasks. If you are working with more than one child, you should divide the tasks in advance so they aren’t arguing about what they will do to help. One easy example is to allow one child to measure and add in the dry ingredients, while the other child will be in charge of the wet ingredients.
• It is fun for the kids to have their own aprons, and you can even have youth-size chef hats and smaller-sized baking tools like spatulas and rolling pins.
• Older kids can learn more advanced skills and gain independence. Learning the basic skills of using an oven, running a mixer, using a knife safely, and even advanced decorating skills will help an older child feel more confident and interested in the kitchen.
• Ask if they have any questions, and be patient when answering. Those “why” questions are how they learn and understand new information.
• Feel free to take breaks if you or the kids feel frustrated or tired.
• Keep things fun! Holiday music or Disney songs are always great for dance parties while the oven preheats. Relax and realize that your kitchen is going to get messy. Spills and slip-ups aren’t the end of the world. They can be easily cleaned up and making mistakes are how we all learn.
• To prevent kids from wanting to eat the raw dough, have a few safe treats on hand and let your child snack as you work to keep the hunger pains away until the goodies are out of the oven.
• Be sure to have your children help with clean up. Learning to clean up their own messes is an important life skill you want them to learn.

Most of all, don’t forget to praise your child and let them be proud of the results. They won’t look as perfect as if you made them alone, but after all, the main creation is the memories. Let children invite friends and family to share the treats they made by inviting them into your home to enjoy or allow the kids to make goodie plates to give away to neighbors, teachers, or other important people in their lives. When your child feels a sense of accomplishment and the joy of giving, they will want to do it again and again.

Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator