Vacation is the time when children can be intoduced to the fundamentals of cooking. Their participation will make them interested in different foods and in turn, make them less fussy eaters.

Benefits of cooking with your kids

Ananya always loved watching her mom cook. She looked at her making dal, roti and cutting vegetables deftly. She asked her mom if she could help, but her mom refused. With persistant requests, Ananya finally managed to persuade her mother to allow her to help in the kitchen. To her mom`s surprise, Ananya was quite the little helper. Letting your children cook with you can open a whole new world for them!

Cooking helps children develop skills such as counting, decision-making, measuring and creativity. It also helps your child develop qualities such as patience and makes them receptive to ideas. These acquired skills and qualities will not only assist them in school, but will be of use to them throughout their lives. Moreover, allowing your child to cook will help your child be a less fussy eater.

Getting children interested in cooking is essential.

A beginning can be made by introducing them to kitchen tools.

Your little chefs are probably keen on helping you make salads and soups; things that can learn with a little guidance from you. They might also want to cut things. Handing over a butter knife to them will help to arouse their interest in cooking even more. Butter knives can cut boiled eggs, bananas, mushrooms and olives. Slightly older kids can be taught to use the actual knife with caution. Tiny tots can be trained to spread butter and jam on bread. These little cooking exercises will make them feel very proud of their cooking abilities.

For children who have already been exposed to the fundamentals of cooking, tools like the gas stove, microwave oven, electric toaster and the bread maker can be introduced. They will love to experiment and will be open to suggestions.

Also let your children make something on the stove once a week, such as boiling pasta or making a cheese sandwich. And as always be careful and be fully alert when your child is cooking on the stove.

Make it a point to allow your child to accompany you while shopping for groceries and vegetables. This is a great way to introduce them to different items and to the quantities that may be required.

Cooking with your children will be a lot of fun. You should be open-minded, patient and make it an enjoyable experience for you and your children. Little children are very impressionable. So give them a good taste of what cooking is all about!

Also see : Children`s Day Recipes