| It is said that cooking is an art. Like most art forms, a | | | | 3. Explain what wet and dry ingredients are and the |
| person can have some natural talent, but there's a | | | | proper measuring cup for each. This is important with |
| whole lot of learning and experiencing that has to | | | | baking, which is more a science than an art. |
| happen before they're any good at it. Cooking is no | | | | 4. Show your kids where you keep everything in your |
| exception. First, children need to be exposed to good | | | | kitchen. Give them a tour! Even after you've done this, |
| cooking, so they can appreciate the differences, then | | | | they'll still ask where something is kept. The best way |
| they need to be given the chance to try cooking | | | | to overcome this is to have them repeatedly put |
| themselves. | | | | away the clean dishes from the dishwasher. |
| They need to learn the basics, through your instruction | | | | 5. Show them how to use a knife. Tell them not to run |
| or a kids' cooking class, and they need to practice, | | | | with knives or turn around quickly with knives when |
| practice, practice. Making spaghetti one time won't do | | | | someone else is in the kitchen with you. They shouldn't |
| it; they need to make spaghetti several times. One | | | | try to catch a knife if they drop it. These are probably |
| reason is so they can remember how to do it and the | | | | self-explanatory. |
| other is so they can learn to add or take away from | | | | 6. Explain other safety issues such as cleaning up the |
| the recipe to improve it. You want them to be able to | | | | floor if they spill (but not with the sponge you use on |
| branch out from a recipe and become a true chef. | | | | the dishes) so no one slips, washing their hands, using |
| As far as the learning goes, here are a few tips to | | | | potholders, turning the pot handles inwards on the |
| start your kids off on the right foot when you're the | | | | stovetop, cook all meat thoroughly, etc. Don't assume |
| teacher: | | | | they know kitchen safety. |
| 1. Show them how to read a recipe. This isn't hard; just | | | | 7. Turn off the TV so there are no distractions. This is |
| take out a few recipes and go over them. Explain the | | | | a time to work together and maybe talk! |
| road map of the recipe and point out where | | | | Your child will probably need a lot of help when they |
| information like ingredients, utensils needed, cooking | | | | first start out, but that will change the more they cook. |
| temperature, directions, and prep time is located. Pick | | | | Don't be afraid of a messy kitchen. You may even |
| an easy recipe or one for their favorite dish to start | | | | want to do the dishes for them so they're not so |
| with. | | | | overwhelmed or turned off. Keep giving them a |
| 2. Make sure there is enough time to make the dish. If | | | | chance to create in the kitchen and you will be |
| you are rushed, it won't be a pleasurable experience | | | | amazed at how fast they learn to put a meal on the |
| for either of you. | | | | table. Now that's a beautiful thing! |