The kitchen is a space that we can use for our children to develop manual and math skills. At the same time, in addition to being a place where their senses will be constantly receiving different stimuli, it can also be a great opportunity to involve them in the daily preparations and encourage them to try new flavors and textures.
Although the kitchen is often seen as something dangerous, especially for the smallest of the home, with the proper measures and with recipes suitable for their age and abilities, the kitchen can become a safe and very enriching place. Here are some of the main benefits that cooking provides to children.
Encourage creativity
The mixture of flavors, textures and colors will put the child's imagination to work: children have plenty of creativity and imagination, it is enough to put them in the right situations and environments to enhance these aspects. For example, in the kitchen, decorating a cake or trying different combinations when preparing a salad, can prove to be a great stimulus for them.
Patience
Some preparations require a little more effort than others, which makes the child work on her patience. If we want to work on this aspect of the child, we can, for example, prepare a dessert, since this involves time as an important element, especially if we decide to prepare a cake (exact measurements of ingredients, preparation, baking, etc.). In this way, the child will understand that in many cases not everything is achieved at the moment, but that you have to wait and be patient.
Ability to follow directions
One skill that is helpful in all stages of life is the ability to understand and follow directions. In the kitchen it is essential to follow an order to obtain a good result; therefore, cooking can be a good activity to teach our little ones its importance.
Mathematical skills
The kitchen is especially useful when fractions come into our children's lives: units of measurement, weight, density and many other mathematical concepts will come to life, ceasing to be just numbers on paper. Therefore, thanks to the kitchen, they will be able to experience first-hand those concepts acquired in school, which will be a great support for their learning.
Use of the senses
Experimenting with various materials and textures, as well as learning new flavors, is particularly important for young children. By preparing culinary recipes they can use all their senses and incorporate them into this fun activity.
Now that we know some of the benefits that cooking brings to the lives of our little ones, we provide you with a couple of simple ideas for your children to participate in the kitchen.
Children from 3 to 5 years
- Crack and beat eggs.
- Form fruit skewers.
- Put butter in a mold.
- Decorate desserts.
- Add ingredients to the salad and mix it.
Children aged 6-8 years
- Weigh the ingredients.
- Squeeze orange or lemon with a juicer.
- Knead, roll out dough.
- Cut figures for cookies.
- Help in cleaning the kitchen.
Children 8 years and older
- Cut fruits and vegetables.
- Follow a recipe.
- Make hot preparations.
- Decorate and plate.
- Grate cheese.
Examples of simple preparations.
Some examples of recipes that you can prepare with the children are: jelly, fruit or vegetable salad, pasta, French toast, yogurt with cereals and fruits, sandwiches, butter cookies, mashed potatoes or all kinds of porridges.
As you can see, the kitchen is a very suitable space for children: by following the appropriate safety measures they can enhance and develop necessary and useful skills for life. At the same time, it should be noted that contact with the kitchen helps to promote and acquire healthy eating habits and knowledge, such as, for example, the benefits of regulatory foods; even encouraging participation in the kitchen can be an ally when it comes to combating the reluctance and not wanting to eat that children show, especially from the age of 2. In addition, through cooking, family traditions and knowledge are transmitted, which makes the child more attached to his roots and those closest to him.
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