As parents, we all know that the best way to teach our children life skills like cleaning, grocery shopping, or fixing things, is to include them when we complete these tasks. Your little one standing next to you, or helping you, as you describe how you tackle your daily chores helps kids really “get” how to do it.
Let’s face it, when it comes to getting dinner on the table, it’s just easier to do it yourself. Kids are messy little creatures and when you throw in everyone is hungry and crabby, involving your kids in cooking the family meal can seem daunting. However, there are a lot of really great reasons why you should make the effort to include them in the cooking!
Helping a parent in the kitchen is really fun and builds a sense of accomplishment. Kids practice many skills like using math in real life, problem-solving, teamwork, and more when cooking. Also teaching your kids how to cook your favorite family dishes, fosters a sense of family tradition and nothing says “I love you” more than filling a loved one’s tummy with a warm tasty meal. So, if you decide to tackle teaching your kids how to cook here are a few tips on how to keep the chaos to a minimum:
1. Allow plenty of time. Avoid the “hangries” by starting the dinner prep early so you have plenty of time for kids to practice and work their way through their new skills.
2. Talk them through it. Don’t just show them, talk to them about each step and answer all their questions. It takes a while for kids to grasp new skills but you can bump up the learning process if you both show and tell.
3. Reward! Reward! Reward! with your praise. Telling kids that you approve and are proud increases the likelihood that they will repeat a task.
4. Don’t forget the hard parts. The cleanup and safety rules are just as important as the fun part in making a meal. So, make sure that your kids understand the responsibilities that go along with making dinner.
Tag us on Instagram @shapingstrongfamilies and let us know how the kids in the kitchen are working for you! We love hearing from you!
