Article

To children, the world of cooking is magical. We combine all kinds of ingredients, then stir, simmer, boil, or bake, and - presto! - something delicious is created.

Being asked to help with cooking makes kids feel grown up and important. And when they cooperate with others to make a dish, they take great satisfaction in producing something for everyone to eat.

Cooking with children - pointing out key words on the recipe as we go along, having them measure, pour, and stir - is a time of learning as well. Reading, science, and math concepts abound in cooking experiences. Children learn to recognize numbers and words from recipes. They begin to use vocabulary related to cooking. And they observe how ingredients change when they are mixed together.

Kids also learn basic math concepts such as counting, measurement, and part-whole relationships. It will take years before young children fully understand concepts like numbers, weights, measurement, time, and temperature, but repeated experiences with cooking promote the development of these concepts.

Cooking with young children does take more time than cooking alone. But the learning that accompanies cooking and the closeness fostered by the shared experience are worth the extra time!