Dinner Time: Let the Kids Make Supper
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The summer is the perfect time to try new things. This is especially true when it comes to introducing these new things to kids. The break in routine from the regular school year leaves pockets of time to explore new activities and interests that may become a more permanent part of the schedule when things fall back into place come autumn. For this reason, there is truly no better time than now to teach your kids how to cook.
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Meal Planning
Children certainly aren’t short of opinions when it comes to food. They can greet their dinner plates with anything from wide, hungry eyes to judging, disappointed stares. You’ve probably had a starving child complain there’s absolutely not a snack to be had as they stand beside a pantry bursting with food from three different grocery stores. When it comes to dining options, the woes and whining from the smallest of voices can be the loudest but the frustration is felt by all. Without the ability to read minds, its hard to discern what everyone is craving from the kitchen. Which is why the summer is the perfect time to get them involved in deciding what should be created in there. Encouraging your kiddos to get involved in the process of making meals can be a real game changer when it comes to food satisfaction and healthful choices.
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Junior Chefs
From toddlers to teens, the skillsets and capabilities might be a little different, but the goal is the same. To teach your kids how to feed themselves and their loved ones. Starting with the menu, ask your kids what they would like to eat and have them source recipes and ingredients. Little ones can draw pictures of what they’d like to eat if they can’t quite write down the words. You can take them to the grocery store and they can help pick out the ingredients. Older children can thumb through your cookbook collection or scour the internet for inspiration. They can try to recreate a favorite dish they had at a special restaurant or on vacation. Got a picky eater? This is the perfect opportunity to encourage them to try new things. And if that’s truly never going to happen, help them become the best homemade chicken finger and mac-n-cheese makers that ever lived.
Could be a future chef! Might also be a future surgeon #knifeskills.
Skills
Once the meal is planned and the essentials acquired, it’s time to tie on those aprons and get cooking. Little hands can manage tasks like measuring and mixing, the messier being all the more fun. They can even practice cutting with soft foods and a plastic knife. Big kids can take on slicing, dicing, and chopping in an effort to safely master these important skills. Kids at any age can take advantage of the math and timing involved in the cooking process as well as learning the delicate balance of flavoring and what actually tastes good. They can also plate their meals, experimenting with a wide array of creative and appealing presentations. Teaching your kids the ins and outs of cooking is a lifelong skill that will serve them well no matter where they go or what they do in life. And who knows, if they start cooking now, maybe your budding chef will be able to teach you a thing or two in the kitchen one day.
For other fun activities to keep your kids busy this summer, check out these great crafting ideas in our post on Crafts for Kids.