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Children love to be in a nice warm cozy kitchen while Mom’s cooking. Once they are old enough to read and understand the way the kitchen works, it’s time to start teaching them to help around the house and with the cooking. Teaching children to cook can also be very educational. From making the list of groceries needed including the shopping list to the measurements, temperatures and times, children can learn not only about the foods they eat but how to become self sufficient.

Start with a very easy recipe. It should also be something the children like to eat. A simple cookie recipe such as sugar, peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies are easy to put together from beginning to end.

Help them make a list of the ingredients they need. You may find you have all the ingredients needed already, but if not take them to the grocery store and have them help you shop for what you need. Talk to them about comparing items and what makes the best sense when you buy your ingredients.

Once you get home, help them find all the utensils they need to make their cookies. Point out where things are stored. Show them the difference between measuring cups and measuring spoons. Have them gather all the items needed in one area to make preparing their treat easier for them.

If they are old enough, let them read the recipe and measure ingredients. Talk to them about why each ingredient is necessary and why certain ones must be mixed together in a certain way. Also explain to them about the stove and oven and why it’s important to be alert when working with such items.

While the cookies are baking, teach them the responsibility of cleaning up after themselves. Show them that things must be put back where they came from and that doing their dishes and cleaning up their mess is an important part of cooking.

Once the cookies are baked talk to them about why they need to cool before eating them. Build their anticipation some before they taste their final product. Before you know it you will have your own little chef. Maybe someday they will be a chef in a 5 star restaurant. No matter what, you will know that they have learned a necessary lesson in life and can take care of themselves when they become adults.

Submitted by Nicole