6 Lessons Children Learn from Cooking

1. How to cook. I know that sounds like a ridiculous No. 1 but I know many people who proclaim, “I don’t know how to cook.” The only way children will learn their way around the kitchen is by getting their hands dirty cooking in the kitchen.

They learn kitchen safety, how to use kitchen appliances, what different kitchen gadgets are used for and what spices and flavors go together.

2. How to read in a real-life context. As adults, most of our reading happens on the go, out in the real-world. Many of us don’t have the luxury of sitting around reading for pleasure all day. However, we do read throughout the day, everyday, regardless of our occupation. Reading a recipe gives children the opportunity to apply their reading skills in a real-world context.

3. How to read and follow directions. This may seem pretty self-explanatory but how many of you have messed-up a recipe because you didn’t follow the directions correctly.

4. How to apply math skills: Again, this may seem obvious but measuring, adding fractions and doubling recipes is essential to cooking. I started cooking independently around age 8. I remember getting up early one Saturday morning and baking up a batch of strawberry muffins from scratch as a surprise for my parents. They were terrible because I measured the oil incorrectly. My parents graciously ate them. Then I went back and read the directions and realized I had measured incorrectly. I learned I had to be more accurate in the future.

5. How to try new and different foods. I’ve done a lot of gardening and cooking with children. They are always more likely to try things that they have grown or cooked.

6. How to eat healthy. Let’s face the facts. Fast food and processed foods from a box aren’t good for us. Growing-up, my mother was a health nut. While I didn’t always like her health nut ways it really did impact my pallet as an adult. I’m not a “nut” like her; however, I don’t like fast food much and I don’t crave junk foods. That doesn’t mean I don’t eat fast food or enjoy a big bag of chips and dip. But in my day to day life, I really do crave meals made from scratch.

So there you have it. That is why cooking is part of our homeschool curriculum. Bon Appetit kid style!

FREE Printable Recipe Guides for Children:

Turkey Sandwiches

Personal Pizzas

Bean & Cheese Quesadillas

Easy Cheesy Spinach Quesadillas

Join us next week, the kids are cooking up Devilishly Delicious and Easy Pumpkin Muffins

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