It’s Fall Break at Compass Charter Schools (CCS) and many of our scholars are spending quality time with their families and enjoying delicious food. Preparing and cooking food is a great way for parents to enjoy time with their children, inspire them to follow recipes and create their own healthy meals. The kitchen can be an exciting place for children of all ages. Kids are able to watch their parents measure ingredients, mix a variety of flavors together and watch the food transform into a full meal. Inviting children into the kitchen can help them learn about healthy eating and it also allows them to practice their math and science skills through measuring and mixing. Parents can use their children’s curiosity in the kitchen to help them learn about proper nutrition and encourage their creativity.
As you begin preparing and cooking your Thanksgiving meal, consider inviting your children into the kitchen to help you. Here are six ways to motivate your kids to cook at home:
Watch Cooking Shows
To introduce your children to the wonder of cooking, consider spending some time watching a cooking television show together. There are countless shows to choose from with different styles of food and cooking methods. Watching a cooking show can give children a visual idea of the cooking process, encourage their curiosity and inspire them to start cooking their own meals.They can also show children how to use cooking utensils properly so that they can stay safe while preparing a meal. Cooking shows can teach kids about new flavors, spices, and textures of food. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for parents to start a conversation with their children about the process of farming and harvesting of healthy foods.
Create a Special Menu
After spending some time watching a cooking show, parents can invite their children to reflect on the different types of food that they learned about. It’s a great opportunity to encourage kids to get creative and think about a special menu that they would like to prepare and cook for their family. Children who are able to express their creativity in the kitchen are often more likely to try new foods and explore different styles of cooking. Parents can support their children by helping them grocery shop for the necessary ingredients and guide them as they use knives and other kitchen tools to prepare the food. Children can enjoy the process of cooking and watch the food transform into a complete meal. Then, parents can invite their kids to help set the table with the proper utensils and decor to create a special dining experience. Lastly, the kids can enjoy the smiles on everyone’s face while they eat the great meal that they prepared.
Use Fun Cooking Utensils
Parents can motivate their children to cook by incorporating fun, unique cooking utensils. Who says you have to stir with a spoon? Not us! Consider allowing your kids to replace traditional kitchen utensils like spoons or forks with a clean toy or another household item. Parents can even let their kids have fun by cooking with just their hands (except for when a knife is needed!) For younger children, using certain tools like a meat hammer or a whisk can create an exciting atmosphere in the kitchen. Colorful cooking utensils are also fun to cook with. Consider shopping for unique cooking utensils that have bold colors or even fun patterns or design to help motivate your kids to start cooking.
Subscribe to a Meal Kit Service
Parents can subscribe to a weekly meal kit service so that they can enjoy the process of cooking with their children without spending time at the grocery store. There are several meal kit services available for older kids like Blue Apron, HelloFresh, Purple Carrot and many others that ship fresh groceries to your home with detailed cooking instructions. For younger children, consider using a service like Raddish Kids, a cooking club for kids that offers simple meal solutions that bring the whole family together. Parents should consider subscribing to one of these services, even if just for a little while, to help their children learn how to prepare a meal. The kids will be excited to receive the box of fresh groceries in the mail and enjoy opening the box to discover the ingredients inside. Parents can support their kids by helping them follow the instructions, use sharp kitchen tools and the oven to prepare the intended meal. The entire family will enjoy a restaurant quality meal at home.
Encourage Creativity
The kitchen is a place where children can use their imagination and explore a wide variety of flavors, textures, cooking methods and serving styles. Parents can motivate their kids to cook by encouraging their creativity. Invite younger children to use fun toppings on a pizza or a sandwich. For older kids, encourage them to design a unique table setting, or invite them to serve a meal in their own special way.
Ask for Their Input
It’s important for children to express their opinions and reflect on their experiences after cooking a meal. Parents can invite their children to talk about their cooking journey by asking for their input. Did they enjoy cooking? What did they like about cooking a meal and what didn’t they like? Did the meal taste good? Those are just a few simple questions that parents can consider asking to help get the conversation going. Listening to children’s input is also an important part of keeping them motivated. When children feel like their opinions are valued they are more likely to feel confident in themselves and encouraged to try again. Before too long, they will be asking their parents to help cook every meal!
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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.