Cooking with Kids
Kids love to cook! Cooking activities offer high motivation and opportunities to build knowledge science, math and reading.
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Science skills |
observe, classify, measure, predict what will happen and what will change, compare color, feel, taste and smell before cooking & after, notice changes in foods after cooking and notice certain physical properties of matter (for example, dry ingredients have to be leveled. Does water need to be leveled?) |
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Math skills |
one to one correspondence, more or less, bigger or smaller, number, measuring, estimating, fractions |
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Literacy skills |
Language development, directional words (in, above, below, under, in front of- for example, is the liquid at, above or below the line?), sequencing (first, second, next, last), letters and words |
Cooking also develops self-confidence and independence as children, with practice, decide for themselves when they are hungry and take steps to address this need on their own.
Before you start cooking, consider these safety issues:
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Electrical appliances- These must be supervised by an adult at all times. Watch that cords can’t be tripped over. Be careful to direct steam and heat away from curious faces when removing lids. Sharp knives- Be sure your child holds the item to be cut with one hand, the knife in the other hand, and always have them make the cut down onto a cutting board. Never leave a knife unattended! Cleanliness- Always wash hands with soap and warm water before starting to cook. Keep a damp cloth handy so your child can wipe up spills as they occur. Children can crack eggs, measure ingredients, stir mixtures, etc. with little or no adult intervention; show them how the first time, but then let them take over. The less you do, the more self-confidence and initiative your child will develop. Expect some mess! Offer support, ask questions, but as much as you can, keep your hands ‘behind your back’! |
These recipes (there will eventually be 36!) are designed to produce individual servings and are presented in pictures along with words to encourage reading. Choose one, print it, and then step back just a bit, ask questions and watch your child construct his own knowledge!