We’ve spoken at length about how to make cooking easier, how to plan ahead to save time and why it’s important for families to enjoy the benefits of a home-cooked meal. What we haven’t covered, is the topic of cooking with your kids; the ways in which it’s beneficial and why we should be doing more of it.

Growing up, it was always ‘all-hands-on-deck’; if we weren’t doing homework, then it was a given that when our mother was in the kitchen, at least one of us would be in there with her. It was never anything that we ‘planned ahead’, but more along the lines of one of our daily chores that in hindsight, we actually enjoyed. In fact, it was probably one of the few times when we weren’t bickering over something silly. We were simply engaged; sifting, mixing, stirring, chopping and learning.

Nowadays however, we rarely ever have our kids with us in the kitchen anymore. Whether it’s due to school schedules, extracurricular activities, or the fact that having them around while cooking can be a bit of nuisance, we just don’t seem to seek them in the same way our mothers did with us – somehow, that expectation to ‘help mum’ in the kitchen is no longer as prevalent now as it was back then. But, and as the saying goes, ‘it’s never too late to start!

What we also fail to realise is that cooking with your kids is actually SO good for them, for multiple reasons. So, for those of you that may still be feeling a little reluctant about getting your little ones into the kitchen (because let’s face it, cooking with kids is messy, to say the least, and the last thing we want to deal with is more cleaning up!), you may reconsider after hearing what we have to say:

5 Reasons why Cooking with your Kids is so Important

1. Makes for great lasting memories; though you may not realise it, cooking with your little ones creates some of the best memories down the line, both for you and your child. With both parties being completely engaged in creating something together, how can it not? And the best part, it’s screen-free and you don’t even have to talk!
2. Educational, minus the lecturing; believe it or not, cooking is a great way for kids to learn. Simply by measuring out ingredients, reading recipes, following instructions, working with their hands and creating all make for great life skills; boosting confidence, enhancing concentration, encouraging creativity and teaching them to be more present and mindful.
3. Helps with picky eaters; for those of you who find mealtime particularly stressful, getting your child involved in the kitchen is a proven way to get them to try things that they wouldn’t otherwise. Not only that, but studies show that kids who help in the kitchen are also more likely to make healthier choices and eat more fruits and vegetables than children who don’t.
4. Great way to learn about hygiene and tidiness; since cooking requires us to wash our hands, wipe down work surfaces, keep an organised station and clean up afterwards, kids can learn from an early age the importance of cleanliness as well as the value in being organised and neat which will trickle into other areas of life as they get older.
5. Creates positive relationships with food; by creating a positive and inclusive environment around food, your children are more likely to grow up with a healthier attitude and relationship with food that will carry over into adulthood.

There you have it. Any other benefits to cooking with children that you care to share? And with the winter holidays just around the corner, there’s no better time than the present to get your little ones into the kitchen with you!