When teaching a child any new subject its important to remember not all activities will appeal to every child. Its important to attempt fundamentals and then help guide the child through his or her curiosity. One way to start is to ask the child what he likes about cooking and eating. Listen to what he talks about the most and mold your teaching toward what his interest is. If he likes sweets, make that your first lessons and let his curiosity blossom from there.
The next step would be to do some research. There are so many cookbooks that are out there designed for teaching small hands how to safely cook. Many books are diverse in their offerings and vary in difficulty, ethnic dishes and flavors. There are also websites available that offer recipes for all ages. Just remember its important to gauge the ability of your little one before suggesting a cooking lesson. Starting slowly is the best way, before junior can whip up a filet mignon dinner start him out with grilled cheese sandwich!
After deciding what to prepare remember that safety is one lesson that cannot be stressed too much. Teaching little ones about kitchen equipment and the dangers of a grease fire are the most important lessons. Also to keep a child interested and his frustration level low practice extreme patience. As an adult cooking may seem like second nature but for many kids this will be a new and scary adventure. The more fun and rewarding you make it the more likely your child will want to continue learning this invaluable skill.
If your child is off to a slow start and doesn’t look forward to learning to cook may I offer some suggestions to peak his interest.
- When looking for recipes or cookbooks be sure to involve your child in the process. Having a say in what will be prepared will give the child ownership and a better chance for follow through.
- Take your child to the grocery store. Exposing your child to where the food comes from and letting him see all the variety of goods may ignite the natural curiosity in him to see how these ingredients become a dish.
- Expose your child to dining out. When my little sister was about eleven all she wanted to eat was chicken fingers, so one night I took her to a fine dining restaurant. Once she walked in the doors and saw and smelled all the foods she went crazy. That evening she dined on sweetbreads (jowls) and pate. She was never the same child again, she even commented on becoming a chef one day! Exposure is key to unlocking hidden talents.
Remember to research and use patience. After following these simple guidelines and suggestions your equipped to have a wonderful bonding experience with your child. Just remember to start slow and always use patience, before you know it junior will be grilling filets in no time!
