The Benefits of Bonding with Your Children Through Cooking
Raising kids is one of the hardest tasks on Earth, made even harder during the coronavirus pandemic. With children stuck inside much of the day, parents are turning to creative solutions to keep them mentally, physically, and emotionally active and engaged during the lockdown.
This article will explain how cooking offers a unique opportunity to bond with your child(ren) and build your skills together. It’s the perfect way to spend time with your kids while at home, gain confidence in the kitchen while learning a new skill and boosting your creativity.
Learning Together
Cooking is a critical life skill for adults, but unfortunately, there has been a gradual decline in cooking skills among younger people. Teaching your kid(s) to cook whole, nourishing and delicious food is a gift that will last a lifetime, plus it will build confidence, an invaluable skill for everyone. It’s also much easier to stay healthy later in life when you build strong eating habits as a child, including having an appreciation for where real food comes from.
Furthermore, getting your child involved in the cooking process will give them a reason to try new things and become more interested in a wider variety of foods. Children crave meaning and purpose and they also like to be in control over what they eat. I’ve observed with my own three kids how interested they are in eating new foods when they’ve been involved in the process rather than when they’ve been told what to eat. If you’re feeding a picky child, there’s a good chance they’ll become more adventurous when they have control over their own kids meals.
Taking your kids to the grocery story and having them pick out a new fruit or vegetable is another way to engage them in the process. I love having my kids provide input with our weekly meal plan and you can go one step further by bringing them to the store with you to search for the ingredients you need for the recipes.
Cooperating
Yes, you can always cook by yourself, but cooking in pairs helps you get more done in less time. You’ll also be able to divide up tasks and give your child responsibilities that they’re ready for depending on their age and maturity. With that in mind, kids as young as three or four years old can handle basic jobs like stirring and mixing. Kids love peeling and chopping and there are many safe kid friendly kitchen utensils available. Bring a step stool in the kitchen so that they can work alongside you. You’ll want to be prepared for a little mess but it’s well worth the priceless time each of you will gain learning and bonding in the kitchen.
As your child grows, they’ll develop the skills and awareness necessary to take on an expanded role in the kitchen. By the age of 9 or 10 they will be able to make meals by themselves and be completely independent with meal time. Once they master one meal, they will quickly progress to new tasks and soon you’ll have your own personal chef at home. If you’re looking for new kitchen gadgets and appliances you can check out my favorite products here.
I love turning on music and lighting a candle when I’m cooking to create a relaxing and fun atmosphere and you can even let your child pick the tunes.
Creativity
Cooking fosters creativity, which is something that we all need more of in our lives. Many adults don't consider themselves to be creative; however, the good news is that we can all learn to be creative at any age and one of the easiest ways to do this is in your kitchen. Since you’re at home more during this pandemic and everyone needs to eat, this is a great way to foster creativity and bring joy to your day. Here are a few ways to ignite your inner creative self in the kitchen with your kids.
Cook one new recipe together each week (let your kid pick).
Purchase one new (seasonal) vegetable each week (maybe it’s one you’ve never tried or one that you’ve never cooked).
Cook your favorite food a different way. If you always steam your broccoli try roasting it in the oven and adding a new spice or a little Parmesan cheese.
Go through your spice drawer and pick one that you haven’t used in awhile and incorporate it into a dish.
Create a “kitchen sink” dish. I love doing this with pasta and salads where you use every vegetable in your fridge to make a yummy meal. This is a great one to do before heading out of town or the night before a big grocery store run to use up any produce before it goes bad. My Eat a Rainbow Pasta dish is one of my favorite meals to clean out my fridge.
Spending Time Together
The other benefits of cooking with your kid are incredibly helpful, but most parents will simply appreciate having time with their child. Look at your calendar each week when you plan your meals and determine which day(s) you have time to cook together. Establishing a routine where you cook on certain days together will allow you to set aside time for one-on-one conversation that each of you can look forward to.
Some kids grow distant from their parents as they get older, favoring to be in their room or with friends over being with family. Cooking together is a great way to stay connected and involved in each other’s lives. By establishing this routine at a young age you will have a reliable foundation of spending time together doing what you both enjoy that will stand up over time. Plus, the outcome of cooking together is a family meal, which is a wonderful opportunity to create a meaningful shared experience and foster a sense of community and belonging.
Cooking is an amazing joy on its own, but it’s even better when shared with friends and family. These are just a few of the key ways in which cooking with your child could deepen your bond.
What are your favorite meals to cook with your kids?