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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

Categorized in , ,

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. From the time my kids wanted to eat table food I made their “baby food” and in stages offered a variety of fruits, veggies & meats. I didn’t actively involve my oldest in the kitchen and he is by far my picky eater. My daughter wants to be in the kitchen and willingly wants to help out and taste most anything.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  5. What a great prize pack just in time for the holiday! My kids love cooking with me in the kitchen. it’s a lot more fun to have my little helpers baking and cooking with me. 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  6. My kids started baking with me from the time they were tiny. I think they initially loved the warmth and the smells of the kitchen. As they get older, it’s a great way to teach them fractions!
    Love your book, love your emails. Thank you!

  9. My daughter was introduced to cooking and food long before she ever tasted any. I love to cook, so I wear my baby while I cook when my husband is around to do anything that might be dangerous to do while babywearing. I love watching her take it all in as I’m working.

  10. My children’s first experience with cooking was helping me put ingredients in pots and bowls. They love to help dump things in and of course stirring.

  12. My daughter has been on my hip watching and helping me cook and bake since birth I always explained to her what I was doing as if it was a cooking show lol at 2 1/2 she started making biscuits on her own with me and memorized the recipe
    I love that we have this connection and it def helps her to be a great eater of all sorts of foods

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