“Cooking with your children can improve family dynamics,” says UCLA anthropologist Elinor Ochs. “A child who assists with meal preparation feels useful and appreciated when she sees other household members enjoying what she produced.”
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Kendra Smiley speak at my church. She’s a wonderful, spiritual person who has great insight as to how to bring up children in a Christian home with a mom who has a home-based business. She and her husband have written many books from “Be the Parent” to “Journey of a Strong Willed Child”. Here are her thoughts on cooking with children. Be sure to check out her website at www.KendraSmiley.com.
I would certainly concur with the Ms. Ochs’ statements and add that both girls and boys can enjoy time with you in the kitchen.
- Spending quality time with your children is a key element of good parenting. In this case, it’s time in the kitchen.
- The goal of this activity is to spend time working together. Not only will this help your child feel needed and useful, but you will have the opportunity to give him or her age-appropriate responsibility.
- Kids as young as two can pour the measured ingredients into the mixing bowl. It’s not appropriate to have them crack the eggs, but if you crack them into another bowl, they can empty the bowl into the mixture. Turning on the mixer when given that direction also can be a part of their job.
- The banana bread or chocolate chip cookie bars that your children help make, will taste even better than the batches made without their help.
- Do I have to mention that cooking with your children will NOT increase your efficiency? That isn’t the goal, remember?
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