Teach Your Children to Cook

Whether you are skilled in the kitchen or just getting started be sure to include your children. Children are eager to learn what you know and even happier to learn right beside you. Some of our best times have been in the kitchen celebrating a success or laughing over a disastrous failure. I have also found that the windows of a child's heart are wide open when working side by side. Distracted by the task of chopping carrots you will learn a great deal about your children's friends, fears, hopes and dreams. When preparing meals with your children, make sure you do plenty of listening!

Even the very youngest should be encouraged to lend a hand washing vegetables or plastic dishes, wiping down counters, stirring or mixing, or carrying items to the trash. Older children can be taught to prepare simple meals from beginning to end, including the clean up. Lunch meals are a great place start for children 5 to 7 years old. Slightly older children can be easily taught how to read a recipe, use a stove, oven and other kitchen appliances.

Pretend you are the chef on a cooking show and teach your children or allow them to interview you as you prepare the meal, don't forget to have a cameraman on hand, even if the camera is only pretend! A few days later switch roles, let one of the children be the chef and you be the guest or cameraman. Music in the kitchen can also lend itself to some very entertaining times in the kitchen as you work together to serve your family.

As their confidence grows and you become more confident in their abilities, take a seat at your kitchen table and check homework, pay bills, fold laundry or read a good book. Keep a wandering eye on their efforts and remain available but let them do the work. You will soon find yourself secretly smiling as your 10 year old serves the family a complete meal, prancing around the kitchen proud as a peacock!

Including your children in the daily meal preparation further increases family bonds, establishes tradition, gives you an opportunity to pass down treasured recipes from generations past and eases the burden of doing all the cooking and cleaning up yourself. With careful training and planning each family member can have their own night of the week on which to prepare the family meal. As the habit develops you will soon find yourself with plenty of extra hands in the kitchen and clean up will be a snap.

Now that your family is eating at home and cooking together, don't be surprised if the next time you eat out your children say "thank you" or comment about what a treat it has been. I noticed a greater degree of appreciation from all of my children and occasionally they have even offered to treat me for a meal out!

So round up the kids and head to the kitchen. Be prepared for laughter, frustrations, a few spills and many celebrations!