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When you look at all the research showing that kids who get into the kitchen and eat with families have a lower risk of obesity and higher grades in school it’s enough reason to make sure your kids love cooking from day one. When you watch kids get excited about fresh foods, their taste, smell and how you turn them into a recipe they get to enjoy it’s incredibly gratifying.
Here are 3 benefits to bringing your kids in the kitchen_
1. Social time with the family_ as kids get older there’s homework, after school activities and plenty of distractions. When you plan for meals as a family and getting your kids to participate in cooking with you it can be a great time to catch up on your days and hear about moments you might have missed.
2. Educational_ cooking is much more than food. It’s about math, chemistry, working as a team and understanding how foods change depending on how they’re cooked.
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3. Fun_ when you start to look at cooking as an art project that you get to enjoy immediately and share with others it’s a whole lot more fun. By allowing kids to be active participants in the kitchen you’re giving them ownership over the food they put in their bodies, empowering them and hopefully in turn creating a lot of laughs.
I feel like it’s never too early to get kids in the kitchen and that means even when they’re toddlers. If you’re concerned about them getting hurt in any way, then starting with a toy like the LeapFrog Number Lovin’ Oven is a great start. Little chefs can enjoy hours of pretend-play fun with learning secretly baked in. Designed for ages 2 years and up, the Number Lovin’ Oven talks, sings and gets number skills cooking through 30+ songs and phrases. It helps little ones connect the numbers 1 to 5 on the slider with low, medium and high temperature settings, as well as shorter and longer cooking times.
I got to see just how much my friend Grey (in the video above) became even more interested in cooking through our fun playing with the Number Lovin’ Oven.
Baking cookies & frosting to make their own creations.
My child’s first introduction to food and cooking pancakes and bacon of course I helped them in the kitchen to make sure they know every step and to make sure all the dishes was squeaky clean, counters clean and tummy happy☺
My son and I love to bake. His first experience was when he was 2 and he helped with rolling and cutting sugar cookies.
My sons first intro to cooking was helping his big sister mix pancake batter. It is still one of his favorite things since he gets to ”dig”. 🙂
What a great way to learn and play!!
instagram name auntie_nae13
Also commented and shared via instagram! 🙂
My 3 year old’s first introduction to cooking began when she was nearly 9-10 months old and walking. I would cook in the kitchen, and she would “assist” me by getting out all of the materials I needed or that she wanted, rather (lol). Then we moved on to making cookies together or even now, she has to stir, mix and pour whatever I am preparing. She would so love this toy and with her little sister being nearly 9 months old, we can start the cycle all over again.
My grand daughter helped to make her birthday cake for her 2nd birthday. She picked out what she wanted. The flavor & the color frosting which she also helped spread onto the cake.
What a fantastic toy to bridge play and learning! LeapFrog is great!
My 21 month-old helps my mom with taste testing and shaking seasonings in the receipt. She loves to be in the kitchen!
This is adorable!
We bake cakes and cupcakes!
So cute!
Avery would love this!
My son loves watching me cook, have brought him in the kitchen with me since he was a baby, showing him what I’m doing. Would love for him to have his own kitchen so he can cook with me. 🙂