Is there a perfect time for your children to learn to cook? It is not so much about a predetermined age as it is about your interest in cooking and your willingness to help Mom or Dad in the kitchen. When your child wants to cook, leave it! Here are some tips to help you be successful in the kitchen.
1. Create the right atmosphere. By that I mean you need to relax and have fun. Okay, maybe they spilled flour on the floor and you slipped, or maybe they got carried away by one of the spices and you have to figure out how to fix it. But with the right frame of mind, you can view them as fun events and not calamities.
2. Answer the frequently asked questions in advance. They will surely have questions, so let them ask. Show them where all the utensils, pots and pans, mixing bowls, and ingredients are kept. Tell them there will be a quiz later and it might help them remember where everything is the next time they cook.
3. Explain proper safety in the kitchen. Demonstrate how to hold a knife and how to cut. Explain what happens if it is not done correctly. Show them where the pot handles should point when the pots are on the stove. Teach them about raw meat and proper handling of it. If you could include something about them doing the dishes, that would be nice too.
4. Choose the perfect recipe. Children want recipes with pictures and they want the ingredients to sound good. Usually that means doing something sweet. If that’s what it takes to get your foot in the kitchen door, so be it. Let them choose the recipe, but steer them towards the easier ones. It’s not so much about the amount of ingredients as it is about the steps involved. Is it necessary to bite a lot? Do you need to brown or sauté something first? Consider your child’s skill level and attention span.
5. Give great importance to the finished product. Your child is proud of his culinary achievement, even if you did a good deal, and it should be served in style. You can also take a photo of your child and the prepared food.
A kid cooking in your kitchen is a good thing when you set the stage for success. Along with the right attitude, you can give them a kitchen tour, explain kitchen safety, and help them choose a good recipe. Don’t forget to congratulate your child and enjoy his freshly cooked masterpiece. You have a budding chef!