I enjoy cooking with my kids. My girls especially enjoy being in the kitchen with me. Over the last few years I have found a few things that work for me in making it fun for all of us.
First of all my girls love aprons. So, I have bought them some fun aprons. A few years ago I got them kids aprons that were fun colors. They were bright pink and green. They have out grown those, so this year for Christmas I bought them some fun retro aprons off Etsy. They love them. They think it is so fun to put them on, even for doing dishes. These were well worth it just to make cooking and chores more fun for them. Plus, not only are the fun they help keep their clothes cleaner.
Second, I have found that my girls love having their own cookbooks. I have bought them several over the years. Some have been better than others, but they have enjoyed all of them. They love to look through their own cookbook choosing recipes to make. Yes, I could have them look through my cookbooks, but they really have enjoyed having their own books. A lot of kids books contain recipes for things that most of us really would not make or like. Or they are so simple that you really do not need a recipe. I like kids cookbooks that contain recipes that are set up for kids to understand, but that contain recipes that the whole family will enjoy. This year for Christmas I gave my 8 year old the Paula Deen’s kids cookbook and she loves it. There are all kinds of recipes in it from making homemade peanut butter to quiche to salad. It is a really nice cookbook. We also like the Williams and Sonoma kids cooking and baking books.
I let my kids help do things like peeling potatoes and helping to measure things while I am cooking. These are important things to learn, but I think it is also very important that they learn to follow a recipe from start to finish. There are many adults that are intimidated with cooking, mainly because they have never really followed a recipe. I want my girls to know how to use a recipe. Plus, they can learn a lot just by following a recipe. It teaches then to follow directions. It teaches them math and the importance of doing math right. It teaches them patience and many more things. I think that having their own cookbooks makes it not only fun but a learning experience.
I hope to start posting weekly on cooking with kids. I think it would be fun and give me motivation to cook more with my kids, but I am not sure if this would be a popular subject. Is this a subject that any of you would be interested in hearing about?
My 5yo daughter is really starting to get interested in cooking with me. I need to get some easy recipes to do with her (because I get frustrated easily and want to do it myself which is so bad!).
I would love to read more about cooking with kids! My daughter is only 21 months but I have found a couple things she can do like helping me roll out & push cookie/biscuit cutters into dough, and throwing ingredients into pots & pans. But I'd love to get more ideas!
My daughter recieved that book AND an apron from her aunt for Christmas! We are so excited to use it. And my MIL got the greatest book about cooking in cupcake pans! I am going to blog about it soon!
I love recipes for kids – post away.
I look forward to more posts about cooking with your children. We cook together often here, and I could use the tips & tricks.
My kids love to wear their aprons. I'm glad yours enjoy theirs as well.
Sounds great to me. My girls are 11 and 9 and love to help in the kitchen.
yes, I would be interested… my son loves cooking with me. Thanks!
I SOOO want to read more about cooking with kids! My 5-year-olds love to help me, but I have a difficult time having them both in the kitchen at once. Any advice would be appreciated. Love the post!!
I got Paula’s kids’ cookbook for Christmas. My boys are a little young right now, but my oldest, almost 4, is very good at helping fill up our drink pitchers with the sprayer from the sink. Gotta start somewhere, I guess. Look forward to your cooking with kids posts.
What a brilliant idea! I would love that Paula Dean cookbook. She is one of my favorite cooking personalities. So joyful : ). I took Kaishon and Sabria to a cooking school for kids this summer and they LOVED it. Cooking with kids is fun! Love the idea of the retro aprons. How cute.
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoy this cookbook. I just ordered it for my daughter and it should be arriving anyday. Mine, she’s a late bloomer. She’s 11 and JUST getting interested…I can’t wait for her to make her father and I a delish dinner from Paula Deen!