Did you know that kids as young as 5 years old can often be a great help (and have a lot of fun learning!) in the kitchen?
I have been cooking with kids for as long as I have been a dietitian and let me tell you - there’s always a lot of emotions in the air! It’s not uncommon to see children’s joy and excitement met with hesitancy and fear from parents. While cooking with your child may sometimes result in all the things that you’re apprehensive of (stained clothes, sticky hands, a big clean-up afterwards!) it will definitely bring with it some fantastic lifelong benefits.
Involving your child in the kitchen will:
- encourage them to try new foods
- instil them (and yourself!) with patience
- have them communicate and work well with others
- teach them important math and science skills
- create lasting positive memories
- and boost their confidence!
To get these benefits, think about all the ways you can make cooking fun for your kids. This can start off in small ways, such as:
- “demo-ing” your weekend meal prep to your children
- bringing your kids along with you to the grocery store and letting them help you choose what’s needed
- having your children wash fruits and vegetables before use
- counting items and making sure you have enough of everything
- letting your kids taste some ingredients and spices as you cook
Build on these skills and then begin to involve your children in larger ways, such as:
- ingredient mixing
- chopping with a butterknife
- cracking eggs
- measuring ingredients
- and even cleaning up afterwards!
With these efforts, patience and a little bit of time, you will notice that your kids are growing up to be curious and independent eaters, inshaAllah, God willing. Take an opportunity to bond and spend time with your child in the kitchen - you won’t regret it!
Be on the lookout! Sound Vision will be publishing a collection of our best recipes from our online children’s classes. 30 Kid-Friendly Recipes for Ramadan will be launched in mid-February, just in time to share delicious and healthy snacks, treats, and meals with your family and friends.
Huda Amareh is a Registered Dietitian who loves teaching people how to improve their eating habits through cooking healthy meals and having fun! She has had the privilege of working with both the Adam’s World Club and Colours of Islam Club programming over the last few years. Huda holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in nutrition and is registered with the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Huda lives in Toronto with her husband where they often spend their time serving underprivileged communities.
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