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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.

LeapFrog Number Lovin' Oven giveaway from weelicious.comPin
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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.

LeapFrog Number Lovin' Oven giveaway from weelicious.comPin

Updated October 22, 2022 and Published November 13, 2015 by Catherine McCord

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About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

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Comments

  1. both of my kids love to help in the kitchen and they love to play like they are cooking!

  3. My 4 year old loves helping in the kitchen from cutting up veggies, to stirring mixes, measuring ingredients, and stirring what’s cooking.

  7. My little one is 3 and loves to help me stir my mixes or add in ingredients. My oldest loves to help cook eggs, make sandwiches, and cut up foods.

  8. My daughter is two she started to assist me cooking when she start showing interest in the knobs on the stove. Adding the safety locked she started to pull a chair to the stove asking ” I do it ” so using hand over hand she started stirring liquids. Afterwards yelling ” I did it” she enjoys helping me cook.

  9. My grand daughter started out helping make cakes and cupcakes and now she just loves helping cook whatever it is you are making. She is such a big helper.

  10. So far my baby has just watched me cook from her highchair. I plan on getting her in on the fun when me and her older bros make Christmas cookies this year.

  11. I love learning toys! If I win its for my granddaughter her birthday its in December 14.. Girl s in my family love to cook.

  12. My now 4 yr old at two tried banana bread ever since then when we make it she’s the one that has to mix all ingredients and pour into bundy pan and always says we make the best nana bread mom don’t we mom. 😉

  13. My 2.5 year old son made fun getting cupcakes with me for his first time cooking now he always wants to help!

  14. My 16 month old loves food, and “helping” in the kitchen. If he hears someone there that is where he is. His food has to look like everyone else’s. Including seasoning, sauces etc. If we add it he adds it , tries it and loves it

  15. My son is 6 now I started coming with him in the kitchen when he was a year old, he would and still does help stirring, measuring, and pouring things in. Chocolate chip cookies are what he likes making the most. We cannot wait to teach his sister how to cook soon as well

  16. Im so excited about this oven. my son wants it so bad for Christmas!!! I love toys that teach kids while they just have a great time!!! Please pick me!

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