Cooking with kids is stressful, crazy and takes forever, but the benefits are priceless.
Today is National Devil’s Food Cake Day! If these words: baking, chocolate and kids did not get you excited to bake today with your child, perhaps the following 5 reasons will.
- Increase chances your kids will eat. If a child knows exactly what’s inside the food they are eating, they will be more likely to try it. As you add ingredients, tell you child what you are adding. You can also let them taste some of the ingredients.
- Math, math and more math. Baking is a great introduction to basic math skills, such as counting as well as more complex skills such as fractions. Have you child count along with you as you add the ingredients.
- Baking promotes literacy. Using a recipe when you cook is a great way for your child to see the words on a page come alive. Make sure to read the directions out loud and explain new words and terms along the way. If your child is able, have him/her read with you. When you cook with your kids, use a recipe, even if your child cannot read, you can still take this opportunity to introduce letters and numbers.
- Science experiments in the kitchen. If baking with your child is anything like baking with my children, a lot of the ingredients will end up all over the counter and each other. Regardless of the mess, there is nothing more exciting than watching your child’s face glow with delight as they watch their creation grow and form into something new.
- Following directions. Following directions is an essential part of baking as well as one of the key skills of Executive Function needed for school readiness. The more practice they have, the better they will get.
Put on your aprons, gather the ingredients and begin baking. I promise your child wont care if you are making a cake from scratch or from a box.
In closing, remember this:
Please share or tweet your favorite recipe you like to make with your child.
