Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Not Just Cute

Whole Child Development

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • Contact
  • New? Start Here.

Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah

April 22, 2011 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Positive Guidance and Social Skills, Snack Time 2 Comments

This is a repost of one of the very first blog posts I wrote.  Since there were only about three of you reading here back then, I thought it might be time to revisit!

Buried Treasure Muffins, Grandma’s Cookies, and of course, scrambled eggs, were some of the first things I learned to cook as a child.  Chef Brockett was my mentor along with my own mother, who endured eggs broken on the floor and failed experiments the dog wouldn’t even eat.  Really.  These early experiences may have led me to become the culinary genius that I am today (well, at least the dog will eat my failures now, that’s improvement), but the opportunities also served to build basic developmental skills that many do not immediately associate with cooking.

The Culinary Scientist

As children participate in a cooking experience, they are enveloped in a rich sensory world.  The whir of the mixer, the texture of bread dough, the smell of cinnamon, the observed change to golden brown in the oven, and of course, the sweet taste of cinnamon rolls all feed and fine-tune the child’s five basic tools for gathering scientific information.  Other science experiences are also prevalent as they observe physical changes like melting chocolate and cooked noodles, as well as chemical reactions from yeast or baking soda.

Motor-Mouth

Along with developing science and sensory skills, children hone their motor skills as they stir, scoop, knead, and sprinkle.  Add to that the benefit to their math skills as they measure, consider fractions, see a visual times table in muffin tins and cookie rows, and count ingredients. Cooking is also an excellent activity for building language and literacy skills.  Reading is enhanced as they read recipes and find letters on labels, and vocabulary is developed when they learn words like “sift”, “whip”, “spread” through actions and personally experience the meaning of descriptors like “tart”, “rich”, “crisp”, and “bitter”.

Compliments to the Chef

One definite benefit to bringing kids in the kitchen (besides the chance that you may never have to cook again once your child becomes a gourmet chef) is the fact that children are often more enthusiastic about devouring one of their own creations than eating the chore presented to them on a plate.  They also gain independence and decision-making prowess as they plan and prepare the family meal with you.

Family Ties and Apron Strings

Cooking is also a way to pass on family lore as you make “Sheepherder Potatoes” like Grandpa would eat on the ranch, or the chicken rolls Dad made for Mom on their first date.  Perhaps the most valuable benefit to cooking with young children is spending time with loving adults and the message that sends to them about their value and competence.  The vital ingredients, are time, togetherness, and talk!

Photo provided by  Swat Ka So.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Trackbacks

  1. Surprisingly Simple Pumpkin Cookies | Not Just CuteNot Just Cute says:
    October 1, 2012 at 10:57 am

    […] with math, science, and language concepts as well as building memories and relationships.  Read more about why cooking is great for kids here.  Because of the simpleness of this recipe, it is particularly great for building independence.  […]

    Reply
  2. Thematic Unit: The Night Sky, Astronauts, and Outer Space | Not Just CuteNot Just Cute says:
    October 30, 2013 at 2:05 am

    […] Snack time not only fills hungry bellies, but is a great opportunity for building social skills and getting kids hands-on experience with snack prep! […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

search this site

Privacy & Cookies: This site may use cookies to customize your experience. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.

I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

Content Copyrighted (2008-2022), Amanda Morgan, All Rights Reserved

Get Our Newsletter & Developmental Guide

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Swank WordPress Theme By, PDCD