There are so many reasons to have your children involved in the kitchen. First, it is nice to have help, even if it involves a bit of training. Also, cooking with children promotes bonding, conversation, and increases your time spent together. Finally, your children will learn valuable lessons in nutrition and cooking.

Daphne and Megan helping in the kitchen

Help with cooking meals:

Cooking meals should not be a lonely chore. If everyone is involved, it becomes more of a pleasure. Turn on some good music. Sing and dance a little to liven the mood. Sure, you will have to teach your children while you all cook together, but soon they will know so much. Before long, they will know their way around without your help. Having your children cooking at your side makes meals so much more pleasurable.

Bonding, conversations and spending time together:

As with any activity involving your children, cooking with them allows you to spend some quality time together. You will find that conversations flow. You learn about their day at school, their friends, their likes and dislikes. Cooking together creates an opportunity to really bond and communicate. It will seem like less of an interrogation and more of a fun talk.   

Nutrition and How to Cook:

So many young adults leave home with no understanding of basic cooking skills or nutrition. Perhaps every meal was just put in front of them to eat. They have no idea how to prepare meals for themselves. You can take the opportunity to teach them about the nutrients involved in each part of the recipe: the protein, the vegetable, the herbs, etc…Without this knowledge, your child could leave home and make meals of ramen noodles or cold cereal. How much cooler would it be to be the roommate who can cook for the entire apartment? He or she would become the superstar of the household. You child will be happy to grow up with this knowledge.

Really, above all else, cooking with your children is fun. It’s fun for the parent as well as the child. One very important thing to remember…involve them in the cleaning of the dishes too.