Cooking with Kids

Having kids offer hands-on help  in the kitchen provides valuable lessons. You have the opportunity to  discuss healthy food choices and to  reinforce what they’re learning in school. The work in the kitchen allows children to learn about addition and measuring by working with recipes and ingredients. Even the youngest child can practice measuring flour, salt or sugar, and while the first few tries are likely to be sloppy, eventually they’ll  learn how to do it without a mess.

As you get started with kids in the kitchen, keep these tips in mind:

Emphasize cleanliness- make sure they wash their hands before getting started.

Emphasize safety- little ones need to know that although the kitchen can be a great place for fun, it can also be dangerous if they are not careful. Remind them that the oven and stove are no place for their little fingers. Mom or Dad must always supervise and be in charge of these places.

Knives are off limits until you decide that your child is ready. Until then, choose tasks that don’t require knives, or allow kids to learn using plastic knives. Using a plastic knife to cut up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich makes a child feel like a grown-up, but watch carefully because even the teeth on a plastic knife can be sharp.

Not everything requires cutting and little ones can help measure and stir, just put a piece of waxed paper on the counter before your child measures an ingredient. That way, any spills can be returned to the container.
Try to use plastic containers, just in case something gets knocked off the counter. That way, the only danger will be a floor that needs to be cleaned up.

Let your child add the ingredients or stir a recipe together, or even turn the mixer’s switch on and off.

For lots of recipes perfect for getting the kids in the kitchen, visit Jif.com