Children in the Kitchen
Start off talking about kitchen safety. These are important matters to go over with the children – at home in the kitchen or in the classroom. (There should be adult supervision with the following at all times):
knives – how to handle a knife (young children can learn to use plastic knives)
stove and oven – and the use of an oven mitt for pots, pans and bake ware
microwave – type of dishes that go into a microwave; not to use foil in a microwave
cooking with oil – cooking oils can catch on fire easily; don’t put on a high temperature; don’t walk away
small kitchen appliances – using a can opener, hand mixer, blender, toaster over, electric skillet
using water for dishes or cooking – knives never go in the sink, wiping spills up immediately
Children need to know the importance of health when working around food.
Handwashing is a must before handling food.
When food or utensils fall on the floor – do not use it!
Tuck in loose clothing and tie up long hair, so it won’t get into the food, caught in an appliance, or catch on fire.
Introduce the kitchen utensils and explain their use: measuring cups and spoons, wooden or plastic mixing spoons, potato peeler, grater, mixing bowls, rolling pin, spatula, whisk, cutting board, etc.
Here are many activities that can can do with your children:
Measuring: With measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, rice or water. Teach them how to measure dry and wet ingredients. What makes 1 cup? 1 1/2 cups? 3 1/2 Tablespoons?
Kitchen Experiments: What happens when you mix vinegar with baking soda together? (It foams up) When you take a tablespoon of Jell-O and add a few drops of water and mix it together. (It makes like a gum drop) Put some water in a clean jar (with a lid) and add a tea bag and set it in the sun. (sun tea) Make sugar crystals, adding 3 cups of sugar to 1 cup of boiling water. Place in a clean jar with some string, and in a few days you will see sugar crystals starting to form (rock candy).
Herbs and Spices: Talk about the different herbs and spices that are used in foods. Bring in some herbs and spices and let them see, smell and taste them. Plant an herb garden.
Reading recipes: Let the children read through the recipe so they can understand each step and what ingredients they will need for that recipe.
Simple Cooking Projects: Have young children start off with simple cooking projects like making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with this project, a young child learns to spread the peanut butter and the jelly on bread), making instant pudding, a fruit salad, cinnamon toast, English muffin pizzas; then working into more advanced cooking projects like making cookies or cupcakes (children are now taking part in measuring, mixing, pouring, and using the oven, etc.)
When the children are finished with their cooking activity, it is important that they learn the proper way to store food and clean-up.
Children gain self-esteem, responsibility, creativity, language, science and math, nutrition, health and safety, Independence and they have fun helping out in the kitchen; and this is a great way to spend time with your child!
