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"Can I help you cook," is usually a welcomed offer of help. But what if such an offer comes from a young child? Do you groan inwardly and think about the time and preparation that such an endeavor would involve - and then shuttle the little one over to the TV? Or maybe you think about how messy the kitchen would be - and you distract them with a book instead. Perhaps you simply wonder what kinds of things kids can do in the kitchen without getting into trouble. Believe it or not, they can do quite a few things without burning the house down!
The fact is, brushing away an eager and curious child can be a timesaver. Some days it is easier to do the cooking yourself rather than with someone else - especially when that someone needs a lot of supervision. While you save time, you might miss out on a rich experience for both you and your child.
Cooking allows children to explore a variety of things. First, it is a sensory experience. Crumbling potato chips on a tuna casserole before baking makes a delightful noise. Kneading bread dough allows comparisons between smooth and rough, wet and dry, sticky and springy. Listening to hot oil sizzle in a pan when meat or vegetables are added can cause wide eyes, and big grins.
Second, cooking reinforces things learned both at home and at school. Making a salad is a great lesson in shape and color. Math skills, whether counting or fractions, can be reinforced with the use of measuring utensils. Biological processes can be taught with the proofing of yeast and the rising of bread dough.
Cooking with kids also introduces a healthy attitude towards food. In the course of meal preparation, one learns that there are really no "bad" foods out there. After all, even fats like oils have there place. Variety can easily be encouraged, as kids will often eat what they helped to prepare - whether that is Tofu Lasagne or Roasted Chicken with Carrots.
Finally, allowing kids to help in the kitchen communicates that they have something to contribute to the family. It teaches responsibility, and invites the child to look outward - to realize that it is just as important to take care of others as it is to look out for oneself.
So what kind of tasks are appropriate? They must be based on age and developmental skill. The following list, adapted from a Web page called "Food Fun for Kids" (by the National Pork Board) provides a good start. Keep in mind that supervision is crucial, and that kids vary tremendously in their developmental progress.
Ages 3 - 6: Stirring batter or other ingredients in a bowl; scrubbing fruits and vegetables; tearing lettuce to make a salad; adding pre-measured ingredients to a bowl; crumbling potato or corn chips over a casserole or into a salad.
Ages 6 - 8: Cracking eggs into a bowl; filling and leveling off measuring cups or spoons; shaping bread dough; using
a wire whisk to beat ingredients; buttering bread or vegetables.
Ages 8 - 11: Use a can opener; operate a blender or microwave; pour batter onto a hot griddle; use a vegetable peeler; prepare simple recipes utilizing just a few ingredients.
Ages 11 - 13: Use an oven; chop vegetables or meat with supervision; use a grater for shredding soft foods; help to plan menus and create shopping lists.
Working in the kitchen with kids need not be an everyday occurance. But if you set aside a little time, you can respond with a confident, "Of course," when you hear, "Can I help you cook?"
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