Have you ever wondered how to get your kids or grandkids to help you more in the kitchen? Teaching my kids to cook and letting them help me in the kitchen has always been a high priority of mine. It usually takes a lot longer and makes more mess, but the skills they acquire and the memories you share are well worth it.   

When I was growing up, both of my grandmothers would let me help them cook. It was such a treat to get to do something grownups did and to feel useful. I know my own kids have felt the same way, especially when they were very young. I remember one time when my son, Maxx was about four-years-old and we were making cookies. He looked up at me and said, “This is fun, Mommy, especially since I’m making cookies with you.”   

I’m sure he would never admit that now (at age 16) but it’s definitely a cherished memory of mine.   

One of my favorite blessings is having my daughter, Maggie, age 11, and my son, both helping me fix dinner. There is a bonding that occurs as you all work together toward a common goal—a delicious dinner. Everyone wants to puts their unique, tasty mark on the meal. What a joy! And they are learning valuable skills along the way. At least I am pretty certain that when they leave home they will at least know how to fix their own healthy meals.   

Everyday Family Meals   

A friend of mine, Brenda, has four young daughters and she involves them all in preparing homemade dinners. She and her husband are both physicians. She finds that by having her girls help prepare the healthy meals, they are more likely to try and enjoy the food.   

Brenda feels it’s a good idea to get kids interested in cooking and eating healthy meals at home when they are young, instead of falling into the trap of eating so much fast food. She says that hitting the drive through instead of preparing a healthy meal at home is one reason why our society has such a problem with childhood obesity.   

Cooking together can be a family fun activity!

They try to have at least one sit down dinner together as a family each day. In our own household, we try to do that, too, but it can be tough when our lives are so busy. But sitting down together to a meal allows us to show how to set the table, share about our day, and model appropriate table manners.
    

Kitchen as Classroom   

I have always told my kids, “When you know how to read, you can learn how to do anything!” And that is exactly what happens in the kitchen. Cooking with a recipe teaches kids how to: 
• Follow Directions
• Read
• Use Measurements
• Learn About Fractions
• Chemical Reactions
• Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem   

Steps for Success: