I say boys, but really these tips are great for baking with any child. My children have been helping me in the kitchen from when they could sit in a high chair. I tried to involve them from a young age, even if it was just giving them some pastry to play with. I wanted them to feel comfortable in the kitchen and be involved in preparing their food.
Baking is a great exercise for children, it involves lots of different skills such as reading recipes, measuring and weighing ingredients, following instructions, motor skills (mixing), measuring time and also is a great way to connect them with the food that they eat.
Tips for cooking with younger children
- Write out the recipe in simple words and laminate it. Even if they can not read it is great to show them the recipe.
- Get out the ingredients first
- Put everything at their level. We used to work at the kitchen table as it was the perfect height for them.
- Get child sized implements
- An apron that fits them is great too.
- Be prepared for mess, but hey you can clean it up!
- Simple recipes are best, try one only a few ingredients first
Tips for cooking with six plus children
- Let them chose the recipe and check if you have all the necessary ingredients. If you are out of any then they can write a shopping list and go shopping with you for them
- Encourage them to read the recipe and do the weighing and measuring themselves. We found that having electronic scales that also can be used for weighing liquid were ace when they were younger.
- Be prepared for the finished product not to look like you think it should. This is their project not yours.
- My boys have a step that they use so that the kitchen counters are a good level for them, but still mix on the kitchen table.
- Encourage them to clean up their mess.
- There is nothing wrong with packet mixes.
Great recipes for kids
Shortbread, oat and raisin cookies, gingerbread, three ingredient cookies, rice crispy cakes, Spelt banana bread, banana muffins and pebble cookies.
What is your favorite recipe for cooking with kids? If you have blogged it then please do join in and add it to the linky below.
These are all great tips, some of which are applicable to adults too (like having the recipe and all ingredients ready as you go).I yself have a hard time understanding recipes that ar enot very clear (like, for example, if a pasta recipe says to cook the pasta, but not for how long). I therefore tend to do well with kids’ recipes too.
These are fabulous tips – will raid my recipe files to see if I can add something to the linky x
Those are all such great tips! I agree with each and every one of them, and try to do them all when my boys are willing to bake with me. I would just add – lots and lots of patience for the parent as an added tip 🙂
I really love all of these tips especially to get them to clean up after themselves and also that there’s no shame in packet mixes!! I always feel slightly guilty using them but they love it just the same. Thank you for sharing!
Have added one of our faves too 🙂
Great tips – i would love to do more baking my mine just ends up throwing a paddy as he doesn’t ‘get’ cooking time and wants it all now! 😉
This is something I need t do more of. Kit and Oz sit on the work top and watch me prepare dinner every night, helping here and there but more as my minion sous chefs!
Great tips. Love the idea of the steps. Cooking with my oldest two is much more fun now, but it can still be touch and go with the toddler.
Great tips for both ages. I should get mine in the kitchen more for day to day cooking not just cakes and treats.
Great tips! Your boy is doing some fab piping there. He would beat me hands down any day!
Brilliant tips. I love cooking with the kids – JD does come up with some crazy flavour combinations though!
I used to love baking with my Mum as a kid and to this day I find something relaxing about baking (cooking is a whole different kettle of fish) thank you for the lovely tips 🙂 x
I’ve been baking with my son for a while but since he’s turned 3 he wants to cook every single meal with me! Eek!
I’m going to start baking with my son this year, he’s not really been into trying but lately he’s been much more interested in having a little stir etc.. Thanks for the great tips.
My kids love cooking too. Something I find really useful is a clear plastic cookery book stand to protect the book from splashes and spills.
you and your boys always make some lovely bakes and it is lovely to see. i hope you dont mind i have added two recipes i recently did with the boys x x
Some great tips! My son loves cooking and would make tea every night if I let him!
We cook with kids a lot. We always let them pick the recipe and plan in advance… unless it is in the heat of the moment and they just fancy a quick muffin or a sponge cake
Some lovely recipes and some brilliant tips about how cooking with children can produce some ‘interesting’ results