Family cooking and the benefits for children

In light of recent events, families are obviously finding themselves confined to their homes with their children.

This provides the ideal opportunity to hone your family’s cooking skills.

So, how about getting everyone cooking and baking in the kitchen?

According to a recent article in The New York Times, cooking is a great way to talk to youngsters about health, healthy ingredients and healthy eating.

Donna Verrydt, organiser of the children’s national cooking competition, Taste Bud Battle, said, “Cooking is comforting and getting your children in the kitchen provides practical experience with many essential life skills.

“It also brings the family together and creates many bonding experiences.”

So what other benefits are there to cooking and baking with your children in the kitchen?

• It increases language development – Children are not only learning and talking about different ingredients, but also following recipe directions which enhances receptive language skills.
• It enhances fine motor skills – Mixing ingredients, rolling dough and using cookie cutters are all great ways to enhance a child’s fine motor strength and control, which are needed to develop academic skills, such as writing, cutting and colouring-in.
• It increases maths skills – Cooking and baking involves a lot of measurement, such as cups, teaspoons and tablespoons, as well as fractions and addition and subtraction proficiency.

ALSO READ:

Make some soup to warm the heart this winter

Make a delicious veggie curry for the family

• It improves reading skills – Children have to read the recipes, and it also helps enhance reading comprehension.
• It introduces children to scientific concepts – They learn what happens when certain ingredients are mixed together as well as what happens when the measurements are incorrect.
• It increases focus and attention – The recipe they are following will result in the final product not turning out correctly. Children learn quickly that they have to pay attention if they want to eat that delicious-tasting brownie they wanted to make.
• It teaches life skills and safety lessons – Such as how to be an independent adult and not to touch a hot stove or how to use a knife correctly.
• It boosts self-confidence – When a child is able to successfully complete a recipe and create a tasty, good-looking dish, they feel a sense of pride and accomplishment and it enhances their self-esteem.
• It is great fun – Most importantly it keeps your children busy for hours while having some great messy fun.

Competition time:
Get into the kitchen with a newfound love for family cooking that has huge educational benefits for your child.

With the support of family, consider entering your children (age four to 19) in the national cooking competition, the Taste Bud Battle.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your love for cooking and culinary skills. Entries open on www.tastebudbattle.co.za.

Have a story?

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.

Also follow us on: