Finding interesting things to do with your kids is sometimes a difficult task. After all, there are only so many movie reruns to watch or games of tag to play before your battery starts to run low. An alternative is finding something you enjoy and slightly adjusting it so that they can participate. These are some different ways to involve your kids when cooking.
Make Shopping a Field Trip
Starting at the beginning of the process, making something menial like shopping seem like a fun trip for them is a good way to get things started. At the start, using a few of the ingredients that they want to buy is a great way to make them feel involved in the process of cooking. When you have an intended recipe in mind, your kids can organize their priorities when going out and are able to operate more independently as a result. As they become more experienced with this process, this becomes a potential learning experience for important life skills they need to know later in life.
Introduce Family Recipes
Food tells a story, and kids are normally more than happy to experience the foods they did when they were younger. If your parents or grandparents have passed on your favorite meals, it’s time to introduce that nostalgic experience to the next generation. These are sure to serve as important moments that they, too, may reminisce about in the future. Engage them in the process and try to tell a story as you proceed with each step. These are the moments that build your relationship with your children while creating something delicious together.
Actively Help Out
A crucial part of cooking with your kids is making sure it doesn’t seem like you’re giving them work you do not want to do. It is likely for you to be a few steps ahead of them. Complimenting their methods and offering advice when they ask lets them feel independent and responsible for their role in the kitchen. When it comes to creating safe roles for them, anything from washing the fresh ingredients to being a consistent taste tester is good for keeping them active and involved. The things to make together do not have to be complex meals either. Some of the first treats involved simply mixing honey with strong tart fruits. So finding ways to create their favorite treats together for special events is a good idea for getting them excited or lightening their spirits.
Doing unique activities with your children gives you special moments that make their individual traits shine. By considering some of these different ways to involve your kids when cooking, you get a break from the sometimes-repetitive activities like overplayed cartoons and games. Having some tasty fun with the family is always a good idea that is sure to be filled with some goofy moments along the way.